Del. Mike Pushkin

Maddy summaryHB 2854 would remove marijuana, psilocybin, and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) from West Virginia's Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This reclassifies these substances from the most restrictive category to a less restricted status under state law. The bill directly affects medical cannabis patients, providers, and businesses operating under West Virginia's medical marijuana program. The change would allow legal medical use of these substances within the state, aligning with the state's existing medical cannabis framework.

Maddy summaryHB 2768 creates a 17-member Juvenile Justice Reform Oversight Committee to monitor West Virginia's juvenile justice system reforms. The committee, including state officials, court representatives, and community stakeholders, must track youth recidivism rates, calculate state savings from reduced out-of-home placements, and issue annual reports with recommendations for reinvesting those savings into community-based alternatives to incarceration. The bill requires collecting standardized data on program outcomes and mandates the committee to analyze cost savings to fund expanded services for youth who would otherwise be placed in residential facilities. This bill directly affects state agencies managing juvenile justice, youth in the system, and future budget decisions for juvenile services.

Maddy summaryHB 2766 creates a tax credit program to help low-income workers obtain vehicles by providing refundable tax credits to individuals and dealers. It allows individual taxpayers who donate eligible vehicles to qualified charities to receive up to $6,000 per vehicle, and licensed automobile dealers who sell or donate such vehicles to low-income workers to receive up to $6,000 per vehicle based on the discount from fair market value. Eligible vehicles must be safe (no salvage history, no open safety recalls, and with a 90-day warranty) and are provided to workers in households earning at or below 150% of the federal poverty level through qualified charitable organizations. The program has a maximum annual tax credit limit of $300,000 for 2021-2022 and $1 million for subsequent years, with the Tax Commissioner tracking claims.

Maddy summaryHB 2750 requires most health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, contraceptive devices, and related outpatient services without cost-sharing (like copays) for enrollees. It mandates coverage for up to a 12-month supply of prescribed contraceptives, including therapeutic equivalents (generic versions), and requires plans to cover alternatives if a provider deems a specific contraceptive medically inadvisable. The bill applies to health insurance plans covering prescription drugs or devices, affecting enrollees (not dependent children) who use these services. It repeals outdated language and amends coverage rules to ensure comprehensive access to contraceptive care under state law. The bill is currently in early committee review after introduction on February 21, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2765 amends West Virginia's medical cannabis law by clarifying definitions related to patient eligibility certification. It updates the definition of "certified medical use" to specify that it includes "enabling the patient to tolerate treatment for the serious medical condition" and revises other key terms like "patient," "caregiver," and "continuing care." The bill does not change who qualifies for medical cannabis but refines how eligibility and treatment are documented within the existing program. This procedural update directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and the Bureau for Public Health as they implement certification under the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act. The bill was introduced on February 21, 2025, and referred to the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2767 establishes a legal framework for worker cooperative corporations in West Virginia, enabling employee-owned businesses to form under specific rules. It requires these cooperatives to include "This corporation is a worker cooperative corporation" in their articles of incorporation and defines key terms like "capital account cooperative" (where net value is tracked per member) and "patronage" (measured by labor contribution, not stock ownership). The bill outlines how earnings must be distributed based on members' work (e.g., hours, wages, or jobs created) rather than shareholder profit, and allows for capital accounts to manage member equity and redemption terms. This directly affects workers seeking to create or join democratically run businesses focused on local economic stability and employee wealth, not investor profits.

Maddy summaryHB 2771 removes an exemption that allowed nonprofit workshops to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, directly affecting current employees in such settings. It mandates the creation of a task force to develop a state "Employment First Policy" prioritizing integrated competitive employment - where disabled workers earn minimum wage in mainstream workplaces alongside non-disabled colleagues. The bill repeals outdated provisions (§18-10Q-4 and §18-10Q-5) that permitted below-minimum-wage employment and requires state agencies to implement the new policy. This shifts focus from segregated workshops to helping disabled workers access regular jobs with fair pay.

Maddy summaryHB 2764 establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw West Virginia's congressional and state legislative district boundaries after each census. The commission, composed of six members (equal party representation with geographic balance across all congressional districts), must develop maps based on census data while following strict fairness criteria like population equality. It requires public comment periods on draft maps, prohibits current elected officials or lobbyists from serving, and mandates that the final plan be submitted to the full Legislature for approval. This bill directly affects how district lines are drawn for all West Virginia voters, shifting the redistricting process from the Legislature to a dedicated independent body.

Maddy summaryHB 2723 would provide West Virginia public school teachers who earn National Board Certification with a $6,000 annual salary bonus. The bill also reimburses up to $600 for certification expenses incurred during the process. This bonus applies for up to 10 years per certification and is paid in addition to base salary through monthly installments. Teachers must verify certification through the West Virginia Department of Education to qualify.

Maddy summaryHB 2763 would expand West Virginia's Human Rights Act and Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." The bill adds these categories to existing protections covering race, religion, sex, age, disability, and other characteristics in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It specifically defines "gender identity" as an individual's actual or perceived gender-related identity, expression, appearance, or mannerisms, regardless of sex assigned at birth. This bill directly affects all West Virginia residents seeking employment, housing, or access to public spaces by making these forms of discrimination unlawful under state law.