Del. Eric Brooks

Maddy summaryHB 2778, titled "To remove the taxation on burials, funerals and cremation," creates a tax exemption for funeral, cremation, and burial services in West Virginia. The bill directly affects funeral homes, cremation providers, and burial services by removing existing sales and service taxes on these specific services. Key provisions exempt these services from taxes under West Virginia's consumer sales and service tax code, as defined in §30-6-1 et seq. This policy change eliminates a tax obligation for providers of these end-of-life services.

Maddy summaryHB 2733, the Women’s Right to Know Act, requires healthcare providers to give patients specific information about abortion procedures - including printed materials and access to a state-run website - before performing an abortion in West Virginia. The bill defines "medical emergency" narrowly (excluding psychological conditions) and mandates that providers follow informed consent procedures even in emergencies when medically feasible. It also requires licensed medical professionals to report abortion procedures to the state. This bill directly affects patients seeking abortions and the healthcare providers who perform them in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2732 would amend West Virginia law to allow parents to exempt their children from school-required vaccines (chickenpox, measles, polio, and others) based on religious beliefs. Specifically, it adds a provision permitting parents to submit a notarized "Certificate of Religious Exemption" to schools instead of vaccination records. This change directly affects school-aged children and their families who object to vaccines on religious grounds. The bill maintains existing medical exemption requirements but creates a new pathway for religious objections, without altering the list of required vaccines or the school enrollment process for vaccinated students.

Maddy summaryHB 2533 requires the West Virginia Department of Human Services to conduct drug screening for all adults applying to become foster parents, kinship parents, or caregivers for children in the department's legal custody. The bill mandates testing for substances like cocaine, marijuana, and opiates, with applicants needing to complete approved substance abuse treatment if testing positive. A second positive test results in a 12-month suspension from placement, while a third positive test leads to permanent ineligibility. The department covers initial testing costs, but applicants must pay for any requested second test, and all test results remain confidential except as specified. The law also requires annual reporting on program costs, ineligibility rates, and successful treatment completions.

Maddy summaryHB 2809 changes West Virginia law to extend the time limit for minors to file medical malpractice lawsuits. Currently, only minors under 10 at the time of injury qualify for an extended filing period (until their 12th birthday or two years after the injury, whichever is longer, but no later than five years after turning 18). The bill would expand this eligibility to cover minors under 18 at the time of injury, meaning those aged 10-17 would now qualify for the extended period. This directly affects minors who were 10-17 years old during their medical procedure and are now seeking to file claims as adults.

Maddy summaryHB 2793 prohibits billboards near West Virginia's borders from displaying messages about abortion availability in neighboring states, including facility names, provider details, or any encouragement to seek abortions. It directly affects billboard operators and businesses that advertise abortion services in states bordering West Virginia. The law requires the Secretary of State to permanently revoke business licenses for violations, with enforcement through reports from residents or the Division of Highways. This bill targets advertising that facilitates out-of-state abortion access, aligning with West Virginia’s existing abortion ban and stated interest in protecting prenatal life.

Maddy summaryHB 2739 would remove the mandatory helmet requirement for motorcycle operators and passengers in West Virginia. It specifically amends §17C-15-44 of the state code, which currently requires helmets meeting ANSI Z90.1, DOT FMVSS 218, or Snell safety standards. This change would directly affect all motorcycle riders and passengers who previously had to wear helmets meeting those specifications. The bill does not alter other safety provisions in the same section, such as requirements for eye protection or vehicle equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 2729 prohibits mandatory vaccine requirements for students in private, parochial, charter, virtual charter, and remote public schools in West Virginia. It removes applicability of existing vaccine mandates (§16-3-4) for these schools while requiring student athletes to still follow athletic commission rules on physicals and vaccinations. The bill directly affects students attending these specific school types by exempting them from state vaccine mandates. It does not change athletic program requirements, as student athletes must continue adhering to existing guidelines for participation.

Maddy summaryHB 2794, the "Life at Conception Act of 2025," declares that the right to life guaranteed by the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions applies to all human beings from the moment of fertilization. It defines "human person" to include every member of the human species at all stages, starting at conception, and explicitly states the bill does not criminalize women for pregnancy outcomes or restrict in vitro fertilization, birth control, or other fertility prevention methods. The bill establishes this constitutional interpretation as policy but does not create new criminal penalties or alter existing medical procedures. It directly affects the legal definition of personhood for all individuals from conception onward.

Maddy summaryHB 2795 prohibits private entities receiving state funds (including contracts, grants, or incentives) from implementing specific policies or programs, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, allowing biological men in women's restrooms, or providing abortion-related benefits to employees. It requires these entities to submit an affidavit confirming they do not violate defined "substantial public policies," including bans on discussing "more than two genders" or requiring DEI training. Public entities must also avoid contravening these policies. Violations could result in loss of state funding or lawsuits, with enforcement handled by the Attorney General.