Del. Kayla Young

Maddy summaryHB 2838 requires all West Virginia county boards of education to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in every public elementary, middle, and high school. The bill mandates that schools make these products available at no cost to students, ensuring access without financial burden. It directly affects female students attending public K-12 schools across the state. The key provision is the requirement for county boards to supply these products as a standard school resource.

Maddy summaryHB 2909 requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing certain third-party records from internet or phone service providers, directly affecting law enforcement agencies and companies like email or mobile carriers. The bill mandates warrants for most subscriber data (including names, addresses, phone numbers, and payment info) and other customer information during criminal investigations, except when the customer consents, an emergency exists (e.g., imminent harm), or data is publicly accessible. It creates limited exceptions for providers to disclose information without a warrant in specific emergencies or if inadvertently discovered during criminal activity. The law aims to protect user privacy by imposing a warrant requirement for sensitive digital data, aligning with broader privacy protections for electronic communications.

Maddy summaryHB 2852 establishes a state-administered "West Virginia Portable Insurance Benefit Plan" for residents working as independent contractors. The plan provides insurance coverage that remains with the worker when switching between different hiring parties, rather than being tied to a single employer. Employers may voluntarily contribute to the plan, but these payments cannot be used to determine employment classification or establish employer liability for workers' compensation. The plan is administered by a state director appointed by the governor, with oversight from a finance board, and aims to manage costs while improving healthcare delivery and coverage options.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's HB 2827 establishes a state-run program to import prescription drugs directly from Canada, aiming to provide cost savings for residents. The bill requires the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to design the program to meet federal safety standards (FDA-approved drugs), ensure significant consumer cost savings, and obtain U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approval under 21 U.S.C. § 384. Key provisions include partnering with Canadian drug suppliers, prohibiting sales outside West Virginia, and creating a public website to list drug prices. The DHHR must report annually to the Legislative Oversight Commission on program participation, drug types, prescriptions dispensed, and estimated savings starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2829 extends the statute of limitations for filing discrimination complaints from one year to three years under West Virginia law. It directly affects individuals who experience workplace discrimination by giving them more time to submit formal complaints to the Human Rights Commission. The bill amends §16B-17-10 to require complaints be filed within three years of the alleged discriminatory act, while also clarifying that "employer" includes any entity with 12 or more employees (previously 20+). These changes apply to claims involving protected characteristics like race, gender, disability, or age under the state's human rights protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a civil legal remedy for individuals whose private intimate images - such as photos showing genitals, pubic areas, or sexual acts - were shared without their consent. It allows victims to sue for damages if the person sharing the image intentionally disclosed it knowing: (1) the victim didn’t consent, (2) the image was private, and (3) the victim could be identified. Exceptions include disclosures to law enforcement, reporting unlawful conduct, or for public interest, though parents/guardians sharing children’s images are generally exempt unless for sexual gratification. The law also protects victims’ privacy by allowing courts to seal court records and sets a two-year statute of limitations for filing claims.

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 2859, the Menstrual Labeling Act, requires manufacturers selling menstrual products (like tampons, pads, and cups) in West Virginia to clearly list all ingredients on packaging in order of predominance within 18 months of the law taking effect. This applies to both disposable and reusable products sold in the state. The law mandates that ingredient lists be plain, conspicuous, and printed directly on the package or affixed to it, in addition to any existing labeling rules. Violations can result in fines up to 1% of a manufacturer's annual in-state sales or $5 per package.

Maddy summaryHCR 65 is a West Virginia legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress and Department of Energy to fulfill federal obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 regarding spent nuclear fuel. It highlights that over 90,000 metric tons of spent fuel are stored at 76 sites nationwide, with taxpayers bearing $9 billion in costs and nuclear customers having prepaid $46 billion for disposal, yet no permanent repository exists. The resolution specifically requests Congress and the DOE to implement recommendations from the Blue-Ribbon Commission, streamline regulations, and establish a deep geologic repository. It directly affects nuclear utilities, taxpayers, and communities hosting nuclear sites that face long-term storage challenges. The resolution is procedural and non-binding, aiming to prompt federal action on a decades-old policy gap.

Maddy summaryHB 2629 would remove the state sales tax on gun safes and specific firearm safety devices in West Virginia by amending the state tax code (§11-15-9) to explicitly exempt these items from the consumer sales tax. This change directly affects individuals purchasing these safety products, as they would no longer pay the 6% state sales tax on such items at retail. The bill adds these products to the existing list of tax-exempt items under the state’s sales tax code, which currently excludes items like textbooks, church purchases, and certain nonprofit services. The policy change would reduce tax revenue for the state on these specific firearm-related safety products.