Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 2928 creates two tax credits for West Virginia residents aged 18-40: a credit equal to accumulated student loan interest (or $1,000 annually for graduates without loans) and a refundable child care credit matching federal dependent care deductions. It applies to tax years starting January 1, 2025, and requires taxpayers to have lived in West Virginia for at least three years. The bill directly affects young professionals with student debt or child care costs, offering cash payments for qualifying expenses. It does not change existing tax rates but provides new refundable credits to reduce state income tax liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill would restore voting rights for West Virginia residents convicted of felonies once they complete their sentences. It requires the Division of Corrections to notify people upon release and the Division of Probation to notify upon discharge about their renewed eligibility to vote. Currently, individuals must re-register themselves after sentence completion, but this bill mandates state agencies to provide written notice and voter registration forms. The change applies to all felony convictions except treason or election bribery, which remain disqualifying under current law.

Maddy summaryHB 2861, the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Insurance Coverage Protection Act, requires most health insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to cover medically necessary treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. The bill mandates that insurers follow generally accepted clinical standards when determining coverage and prohibits policies from using discretionary clauses that limit such coverage. It directly affects health insurance providers and policyholders in West Virginia by expanding required benefits for behavioral health care. The law creates new regulatory standards under West Virginia Code §33-57A-1 et seq. and applies to individual, group, hospital, and health maintenance organization plans. This proposal is currently pending in the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2820 allows any patient receiving medical care in a West Virginia hospital to refuse observation or participation by medical residents or students during procedures. Hospitals must implement policies to inform patients of this right before care begins. The bill directly affects all patients undergoing medical procedures at participating hospitals, ensuring they can decline being observed during their treatment. It creates a new legal right without altering medical standards or requiring additional hospital resources. This is a patient privacy measure focused on informed consent for observation during care.

Maddy summaryHB 2919 would require West Virginia's Secretary of State to create and maintain an online voters' guide on the state election website. The guide would include all candidate information currently required in filing certificates of announcement (such as candidate names, offices sought, residence details, and party affiliation), plus allow statewide candidates to submit personal statements. This bill directly affects all candidates filing for office in West Virginia by standardizing and centralizing their publicly available information. It does not change existing filing requirements but mandates that this data be compiled into a single online resource for voters. The bill is currently in the introduction phase (filed February 24, 2025).

Maddy summaryHB 2824 requires health insurance providers in West Virginia to cover medically necessary infertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation services, as defined by the bill. It directly affects West Virginia residents facing infertility (affecting 1 in 6 couples) and health insurance companies operating in the state. The bill mandates coverage for standard fertility treatments consistent with medical guidelines, such as those for cancer patients or individuals with genetic conditions, while excluding experimental procedures. It defines "medically necessary" based on established clinical standards and evidence, aiming to make infertility care more affordable. The bill is currently in committee referral following its introduction on February 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2821 requires all West Virginia schools eligible for the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to apply for this program, ensuring free breakfast and lunch for all students in those schools without cost. It directly affects qualifying public schools and their students, particularly in under-resourced districts prioritized for expansion. The bill mandates county education boards to maximize federal funding through CEP participation and report on program impacts annually. This policy change shifts meal funding to a universal model for eligible schools, aligning with the existing "Feed to Achieve" initiative to provide healthy meals to all elementary students. The bill focuses on administrative requirements for school participation, not new funding sources.

Maddy summaryHB 2847, the Agricultural Right to Repair Act, requires manufacturers of agricultural equipment (like tractors, combines, and sprayers) to provide farmers and independent repair shops with repair documentation, parts, and tools on "fair and reasonable terms." The bill mandates that manufacturers offer these resources at no cost for documentation, and for parts/tools, at costs equivalent to what they charge authorized repair providers. It prohibits manufacturers from imposing conditions like requiring shops to become authorized providers or restricting part/tool use, ensuring farmers and independent repair businesses can access necessary resources without unnecessary barriers. This bill directly affects farmers and repair businesses by expanding their repair options and promoting competition in agricultural equipment maintenance.

Maddy summaryHJR 25 proposes a constitutional amendment to West Virginia's Bill of Rights, establishing a state-level right to reproductive freedom for all residents. It explicitly guarantees individuals' rights to make decisions about contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy continuation, miscarriage care, and abortion. The amendment prohibits the state from restricting these rights unless it uses the least restrictive means to protect health under evidence-based medical standards, while allowing abortion bans after fetal viability - except when a physician deems it necessary to protect the patient's life or health. The amendment defines "fetal viability" as the point when a fetus can survive outside the womb with medical assistance, determined case-by-case by a treating physician.

Maddy summaryHB 2828 (West Virginia, 2025) protects tenants facing violence by guaranteeing their right to contact police or emergency services without landlord penalties or lease waivers. It allows tenants to terminate leases without penalty if fearing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sexual extortion, requiring written notice with a qualifying document (like a restraining order). The bill also prohibits landlords from disclosing tenant safety information, sharing it in databases, or using it against tenants in eviction cases. This directly affects residential tenants in West Virginia who experience violence or safety threats, ensuring their privacy and ability to leave unsafe housing. The law provides civil remedies, including $1,000 or actual damages, for violations.