Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 2902 amends West Virginia law to expand protections against employment discrimination. It broadens the definition of "employee" to include independent contractors working under contract with an employer, and lowers the threshold for "employer" coverage from 12 to two or more employees. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for filing discrimination claims with the West Virginia Human Rights Commission from one year to three years after the alleged discriminatory act. These changes directly affect employers with two or more workers and employees (including independent contractors) who experience workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, sex, disability, or age.

Maddy summaryHB 2830 establishes a grant program to support West Virginia small businesses by providing up to $25,000 per qualifying investment (capped at $100,000 annually per investor) to individuals or entities making equity or debt investments in eligible businesses. The program requires businesses to meet strict criteria, including annual revenue under $1 million, West Virginia-based operations, and no more than 50 state employees. Investments must occur between July 2026 and December 2027, with the newly created West Virginia Small Business Financing Authority certifying eligible businesses and managing applications. If a business relocates outside West Virginia or closes within two years due to a criminal conviction involving a business officer, the investor must repay the grant.

Maddy summaryHB 2845 prohibits West Virginia higher education institutions from requiring current or prospective students or employees to share social media login credentials, change privacy settings, or add staff to their social media contacts. It also bans institutions from penalizing students or employees who refuse such requests, including threats of disciplinary action, dismissal, or denial of participation in activities. The law explicitly allows institutions to view publicly available social media content and does not override federal or state legal requirements. This bill directly affects students and employees at all public and private colleges and universities in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 2823, would expand absentee voting eligibility in West Virginia to include all registered voters aged 65 or older, without requiring them to prove a specific reason like illness or disability. Currently, voters over 65 must still meet other criteria (such as medical confinement) to vote absentee; this bill removes that barrier. The change would be implemented by amending the state code to add "attaining age 65" as a standalone reason for absentee voting under existing categories. It directly affects all West Virginia residents 65 and older who wish to vote by mail. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 2839 requires all West Virginia public elementary, middle, and high schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students. County boards of education must supply these products using existing funds allocated for hygiene items, without requiring new state spending. The bill directly affects female students in public K-12 schools by ensuring access to these essential products during school hours. It establishes a clear policy change to address period poverty in educational settings through existing budget mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2910, the Second Look Sentencing Act, allows West Virginia judges to reconsider prison sentences exceeding 10 years for individuals who have served at least a decade. It requires courts to evaluate if a defendant is not a danger, poses no credible risk of reoffending, demonstrates readiness for reentry, and if justice warrants modification, with a presumption of release for those 50+ at application. The bill mandates courts to consider factors like age at offense, rehabilitation progress, victim input, and family circumstances before granting modifications, which would require up to five years of supervised release. Defendants denied modifications may reapply after specified waiting periods (5 years for second applications, 2 years for third), with a final option available at age 50. This bill directly affects long-term incarcerated individuals, aiming to provide judicial review based on changed circumstances rather than solely on initial sentencing.

Maddy summaryHB 2822 prohibits public utilities in West Virginia from disconnecting residential electricity, gas, or water service during a declared state emergency. It requires utilities to offer customers a deferred payment plan (without down payments or penalties) if they face financial hardship due to the emergency, and mandates service restoration within 48 hours if disconnected during the emergency. The bill also bans disconnections for 180 days after the emergency ends for customers affected by emergency-related financial hardship, while requiring utilities to notify customers about these protections. Utilities may still recover unpaid bills after the emergency through standard procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend West Virginia's alcohol beverage control laws to specifically address the sale and regulation of vintage distilled spirits. It would add a new article to the state code establishing rules for how these aged spirits are handled, stored, and sold by licensed retailers. The legislation directly affects the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, licensed liquor retailers, and consumers purchasing vintage spirits in the state. Key provisions would create specific definitions and requirements for vintage distilled spirits, though the full text of these new regulations is not visible in the provided excerpt. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 2920 would exempt feminine hygiene products (such as tampons, sanitary pads, and menstrual cups) and diapers from West Virginia's state sales tax. The bill defines "feminine hygiene products" to include common menstrual items and "diapers" to cover both disposable and washable incontinence products for people of any age or sex. This change would remove sales tax from these specific items at the point of purchase, affecting consumers and retailers who sell them. The bill was introduced on February 24, 2025, and referred to the House Finance Committee for further consideration.

Maddy summaryHB 2831 creates the West Virginia Prescription Drug Affordability Board to address high prescription drug costs. The board will directly affect West Virginia residents, state/local governments, commercial health plans, healthcare providers, and pharmacies by reviewing drug pricing. Key provisions include establishing the board with appointed members (including experts in health care economics), requiring a cost review process for drugs with affordability challenges, and creating an advisory Stakeholder Council. The bill also defines key terms like "brand name drug" and "manufacturer," and mandates transparency reports while requiring conflict-of-interest disclosures.