Del. Adam Burkhammer

Maddy summaryHB 2690, the Dental Insurance Transparency Act, requires dental insurance carriers in West Virginia to publicly report how much of collected premiums are spent on actual patient care versus administrative costs. Carriers must file annual reports with the Insurance Commissioner detailing medical loss ratios (MLRs), similar to federal standards, including enrollment data, cost-sharing details, and coverage limits. If a carrier spends less than 80% of premium funds on patient care (the MLR threshold), they must issue rebates to policyholders as reduced premiums. The law also mandates transparency around payment methods, requiring carriers to notify providers of fees for electronic payments and offer fee-free alternatives. These reports will be summarized and made publicly available yearly by the commissioner.

Maddy summaryHB 2047 prohibits cameras and recording devices in the bedrooms and bathrooms of children in foster care across West Virginia. This law directly affects foster parents, kinship caregivers, and residential treatment facilities managing foster children's living spaces. The bill allows exceptions for age-appropriate baby monitors and medical monitoring equipment requiring a doctor's recommendation for health/safety purposes. It does not restrict cameras in common areas or other non-private spaces within foster homes.

Maddy summaryHB 2782 requires West Virginia public elementary, secondary schools, and state institutions of higher education to display the national motto "In God We Trust" in a conspicuous location if the display is either donated or purchased using private donations. The bill mandates that any poster or framed copy must include centered representations of both the U.S. flag and the West Virginia state flag, with no additional text or images allowed. Schools may accept private donations specifically for this purpose but cannot use public funds to purchase the displays. The bill focuses solely on the physical display requirements and does not alter school curricula or religious practices.

Maddy summaryHB 2814 requires West Virginia's Governor to create comprehensive crisis preparedness plans to address five specific threats: nuclear attacks, major energy grid disruptions, long-term cyber-attacks, invasion, and insurrection. The bill mandates that these plans include preventative measures, mitigation strategies, immediate response protocols, remediation steps, and recovery efforts. The Governor must brief the legislature on initial plans by August 31, 2025, with final plans due by November 30, 2025, followed by annual updates. The legislation directly affects state government operations and aims to protect all West Virginia residents by preparing for high-risk scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 2898 transfers administrative control of all county fire departments from current county fire boards to county commissions. It applies to fire departments not already operated by a city or town, eliminating county fire boards entirely. The bill amends state law to require county commissions to manage these departments directly, including funding, operations, and oversight under new provisions. This change affects every fire department in West Virginia not currently under municipal control.

Maddy summaryHB 2784 amends West Virginia's workers' compensation laws to clarify that employers maintaining proper coverage are generally exempt from lawsuits for employee injuries. It specifies employees cannot recover under workers' comp for self-inflicted injuries or injuries caused by their own intoxication, while requiring employers to have reasonable suspicion before testing for intoxication. The bill adds that employees may recover if an injury resulted from an employer's "deliberate intention" to cause harm. It repeals an outdated section (§23-2-6a) related to exemptions for employer officers and managers. This bill directly affects employees and employers in West Virginia's workers' compensation system.

Maddy summaryHB 2793 prohibits billboards near West Virginia's borders from displaying messages about abortion availability in neighboring states, including facility names, provider details, or any encouragement to seek abortions. It directly affects billboard operators and businesses that advertise abortion services in states bordering West Virginia. The law requires the Secretary of State to permanently revoke business licenses for violations, with enforcement through reports from residents or the Division of Highways. This bill targets advertising that facilitates out-of-state abortion access, aligning with West Virginia’s existing abortion ban and stated interest in protecting prenatal life.

Maddy summaryHB 2749 allows West Virginia volunteer and part-volunteer fire departments to use state funds from the Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund and the Fire Protection Fund to hire or contract with certified firefighters. Before doing so, the department must obtain written approval from their county fire board (or county commission if no board exists), confirming the department is understaffed and that the hiring addresses this need. This bill adds hiring certified firefighters as a new authorized use of these funds, which were previously restricted to equipment, insurance, training, and operational costs. The change aims to help departments address staffing shortages while maintaining oversight through county-level approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2794, the "Life at Conception Act of 2025," declares that the right to life guaranteed by the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions applies to all human beings from the moment of fertilization. It defines "human person" to include every member of the human species at all stages, starting at conception, and explicitly states the bill does not criminalize women for pregnancy outcomes or restrict in vitro fertilization, birth control, or other fertility prevention methods. The bill establishes this constitutional interpretation as policy but does not create new criminal penalties or alter existing medical procedures. It directly affects the legal definition of personhood for all individuals from conception onward.

Maddy summaryHB 2376 would prevent West Virginia's Department of Human Services from requiring foster children to receive vaccinations as a condition of foster care placement. This applies specifically to foster parents who object to immunizations based on religious or moral beliefs. The bill would amend state law to prohibit the department from mandating vaccinations for children in foster care under these circumstances. It does not affect general vaccination requirements for children outside foster care arrangements.