Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 4067 would provide a child care subsidy for the children of employees working at least 20 hours per week in licensed child care centers or certified family child care homes in West Virginia, regardless of the employee's household income. The bill requires the state department to subsidize child care services at these facilities for the employees' children. This directly affects child care workers who currently may not qualify for subsidies based on income, ensuring they can access affordable care for their own children. The policy change eliminates income requirements for this specific subsidy program, focusing solely on the employee's work hours in the child care sector.

Maddy summaryHB 5541, titled "Daniel's Law," protects the personal contact information of certain public officials in West Virginia. It prohibits state/local agencies and private entities from disclosing home addresses or unpublished home/personal phone numbers of elected officials (including those who have won but not yet taken office), judicial officers, prosecutors, public defenders, and law enforcement officers without their written permission. The law applies to active, former, and retired officials, as well as their immediate family members living in the same household, aiming to prevent harassment or harm. It explicitly bans disclosure if a reasonable person would foresee the information could lead to risk of harm. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee after introduction on February 16, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5623, the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, prohibits licensed mental health providers in West Virginia from performing conversion therapy on anyone under 18. The bill specifically bans both direct conversion therapy and referrals to providers offering such services, covering clinical psychologists, social workers, school counselors, and other licensed professionals. Violations would be treated as unprofessional conduct, with first offenses resulting in written warnings and mandatory training, and repeat offenses leading to disciplinary action by licensing boards. This law directly affects minors under 18 and all mental health providers licensed in West Virginia who interact with youth clients.

Maddy summaryHB 5610, titled the "Granting Relatives Access to Monitor Act" (GRAM'S Act), allows residents of West Virginia long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes) or their authorized representatives (like guardians or attorneys in fact) to install electronic monitoring devices (cameras or audio recorders) in their rooms. To do so, the resident or representative must pay for the device and installation (excluding electricity), complete a facility-provided form, and obtain consent from other residents sharing the room. The bill requires facilities to provide consent forms and prohibits unauthorized monitoring, with violations treated as license violations subject to criminal penalties. This directly affects residents seeking monitoring for safety, their families, and long-term care facilities managing these requests.

Maddy summaryHB 5574 updates ethics rules for West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) commissioners. It requires commissioners to publish their financial statements online annually, revises criteria for determining actions in the "public interest," and removes outdated provisions like §24-1-1a and §24-1-1b. The bill also makes PSC members subject to the state's code of judicial conduct. These changes directly affect PSC commissioners by increasing transparency and aligning their conduct standards with judicial ethics.

Maddy summaryHB 5540 would require law enforcement in West Virginia to inform individuals upon arrest of three specific rights: the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present during questioning, and the warning that statements may be used against them in court. This bill directly affects anyone arrested for civil or criminal violations in the state by codifying standard due process warnings into state law. The key provision mandates these specific advisements be provided at the time of arrest, aligning with established legal protections. The bill does not create new rights but formally incorporates existing due process requirements into West Virginia's Code. It is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee after introduction on February 16, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative House resolution honoring former West Virginia House Speaker and Chief Justice Timothy P. Armstead following his passing. It memorializes his service, names a conference room in the House as the "Speaker Tim Armstead Memorial Conference Room," and extends condolences to his family. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it formally recognizes his legacy and contributions to West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 5594 requires all American flags sold at retail in West Virginia to be manufactured in the United States. This law directly affects retailers selling American flags within the state, prohibiting the sale of flags made outside U.S. borders. The key provision adds a new section to West Virginia's consumer protection law, mandating that retailers verify and comply with U.S. manufacturing for all American flag products offered for sale. The bill does not apply to flags sold for non-retail purposes or to other flag types.

Maddy summaryHB 5501 establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in West Virginia. The bill requires applicants to hold a current NARM certification, complete MEAC-accredited education or a NARM portfolio evaluation, and meet basic qualifications like being 18+ and having a high school diploma. It mandates that licensed midwives renew their licenses every two years by providing proof of current NARM certification and participation in perinatal outcome data reporting. This bill directly affects midwives seeking to legally practice in West Virginia by creating new licensing standards under the state's regulatory authority.

Maddy summaryHB 5345 would change how West Virginia pays child care subsidies by requiring payments to be based on a child’s monthly enrollment (how many children are registered for the month) instead of daily attendance (paying for each day a child attends). This directly affects licensed child care centers and family day-care homes that receive state subsidies, providing more stable monthly funding regardless of daily attendance fluctuations. The bill amends state code to replace the current daily-attendance payment system with a monthly enrollment model for these providers. It does not apply to exempt programs like public schools, short-term care, or certain summer camps. The change aims to simplify billing and ensure consistent funding for child care providers.