Del. Bill Roop

Maddy summaryHB 4565 would amend West Virginia law to exempt insurance producers who have held an active license for 20 years or more from completing additional continuing education (CE) hours beyond the standard requirements. This change directly affects experienced insurance agents selling life, health, property, casualty, or other permitted insurance lines. The bill modifies existing rules (§33-12-8) by removing the biennial CE hour requirement for these long-tenured professionals, while maintaining standard CE obligations for others. It does not alter CE requirements for new agents or those with fewer years of licensure. The exemption applies only to producers who meet the 20-year threshold, not to those selling specific products like credit insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 4553 creates a tuition reimbursement program for West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation employees. It provides 20% annual tuition coverage at state colleges for undergraduate studies, increasing to 100% after five years of continued employment. To qualify, employees must prove employment, apply for other financial aid (like Pell Grants) first, and maintain academic progress. The reimbursement only covers tuition after other aid sources are exhausted, and the state may set additional limits.

Maddy summaryHB 4556 would repeal West Virginia's existing net metering rules for public utilities, specifically eliminating Section 24-2F-8 of the state code. This change would directly affect residential and small business customers with solar panels or other renewable energy systems, removing their ability to sell excess electricity back to the grid for credit. The bill’s sole mechanism is the repeal of current net metering provisions, without adding new requirements or standards. It does not create new policy but ends the current framework for utility compensation of customer-generated renewable energy. (Note: As a procedural repeal, this summary is concise per the bill's nature.)

Maddy summaryHB 4586, introduced in West Virginia's 2026 legislative session, would prohibit state agencies and local governments from purchasing electric vehicles that may contain components made through forced labor or oppressive child labor. The bill defines "forced labor" as work obtained by coercion or fraud, including labor involving protected characteristics, and "oppressive child labor" as employment of children under 14 in hazardous work like mining. It requires all government contracts for electric vehicles to include a provision ensuring no components were produced using such labor, aligning with federal actions like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. If enacted, the law would directly affect all state departments, counties, municipalities, schools, and universities purchasing electric vehicles, preventing taxpayer funds from supporting vehicles linked to unethical labor practices. The bill is currently pending in the House Government Organization Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits any organization receiving state funding from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for employment or participation in its programs. It mandates exemptions for medical reasons (verified by a physician) or sincerely held religious beliefs (via notarized statement), and bans discrimination against employees using these exemptions. The law applies to all state-funded entities, including government agencies, schools, and private businesses, but excludes Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities due to federal regulations. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 4520 would provide a 25% discount on lodging and services at West Virginia State Parks for residents who present a valid West Virginia driver's license or state ID. The bill requires state park directors to implement this discount for all qualifying residents. It directly affects West Virginia residents seeking to use state park lodging or services. The policy change would make park stays more affordable for in-state residents under this specific program.

Maddy summaryHB 4511 requires the West Virginia Department of Human Services to conduct drug testing on all adults applying to become foster parents, kinship caregivers (family members caring for children), or designated caregivers for children in the department's legal custody. The testing screens for specific substances like marijuana, cocaine, and opioids, with valid prescriptions for detected drugs exempting applicants from penalties. Applicants with a positive test must complete approved substance abuse treatment; repeated positives lead to suspension or permanent ineligibility, and refusal to test also disqualifies applicants. The department covers initial test costs, but applicants pay for any additional testing at alternative facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 4496 requires creators and distributors of AI-generated media (such as videos, audio, or images) to include clear, visible disclosures identifying the content as artificial intelligence-generated. This applies to any public-facing media created or materially altered by AI, mandating specific disclosures like a 3-second on-screen label for videos or a spoken statement for audio content. Exceptions include internal research, basic AI-assisted editing (e.g., spell-check), and privately shared personal content. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day for organizations or $1,000 per day for individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 4521 requires the West Virginia state government to reimburse counties for the daily costs of housing inmates when a conviction results in credit for time already served in jail. This directly affects counties operating local jails and inmates whose sentences are reduced due to prior incarceration time. The bill amends existing law to mandate state reimbursement for the days an inmate is credited toward their sentence, rather than having counties absorb those costs. It clarifies that counties should be paid back for these specific days through the state's correctional funds, ensuring counties aren't financially burdened by reduced sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 4524 requires West Virginia state agencies and public entities to obtain written certification from companies they contract with (for goods or services valued at $100,000 or more) that the companies are not boycotting Israel. It defines a "boycott of Israel" as actions intended to penalize or harm economic relations with Israel or Israeli businesses. Contracts lacking this certification would be void, and the rule applies to all public entities - including those previously exempt from similar contracting requirements. The bill clarifies that the prohibition extends to all state spending units, ensuring consistent application across government procurement.