Del. Adam Burkhammer

Maddy summaryHB 2173 requires West Virginia hospitals to publicly disclose the prices for the 50 most common health care services they provide, including procedure codes, undiscounted prices, and facility fees, on their websites by January 31 each year. For nonemergency care, hospitals must provide patients with a good faith cost estimate within five business days of a request, in plain language, and including details about in-network insurance coverage. The bill does not apply to emergency services, and non-compliant hospitals face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. This law aims to increase price transparency for patients seeking nonemergency care by standardizing how hospitals share cost information.

Maddy summaryHB 2040 modifies West Virginia's Certified Industrial Business Expansion Development Program by removing a requirement that electricity provided to businesses in designated industrial districts must be generated from renewable sources. This change directly affects new or expanded industrial facilities locating within certified high-impact business development districts, which are limited to two per state and must cover no more than 2,250 acres. The key provision allows these businesses to use electricity generated from non-renewable sources within the district without facing certain utility regulations, such as Public Service Commission oversight on rates or net metering rules. The bill does not create new districts but alters the operational flexibility for electricity service within existing or future certified zones.

Maddy summaryHB 2375 prohibits requiring physicians or others to perform or assist in irreversible gender reassignment surgery if they object for any reason. It directly affects medical professionals licensed in West Virginia, including physicians under the state's medical boards. The bill adds a new section to state law explicitly stating that no one may be compelled to participate in such procedures, even if mandated by law or policy. This creates a legal protection for healthcare providers who refuse to provide or assist with these specific medical procedures based on personal, medical, or other grounds.

Maddy summaryHB 2048 amends West Virginia's Jobs Act to simplify documentation requirements for public construction projects. It allows contractors and public authorities to submit alternative records - such as waiver certificates or simplified payroll documents - instead of requiring specific forms like government IDs or I-9s for employee verification. The bill specifies that these alternative records must still include employee occupation, residence county/state, and project details. This change applies to all public improvement projects funded by public authorities and streamlines reporting to the Division of Labor, which will compile and submit annual data to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by October 15.

Maddy summaryHB 2352 modifies West Virginia's Unborn Child Protection Act by requiring healthcare providers to obtain voluntary, informed consent before performing abortions. The bill mandates that providers inform patients about medical risks of abortion, risks of carrying a pregnancy to term, ultrasound viewing options, fetal development stages, and mental health resources - via printed materials and the state health department's website. It includes special provisions for minors and cases of sexual assault or incest, requiring 48-hour law enforcement reports or medical treatment documentation before abortion access. The bill also restricts abortion locations to licensed hospitals and prohibits certain procedures, while emphasizing patient education as a core requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2038 creates a new $10 "upland game bird" stamp that hunters can purchase alongside their standard hunting license. It directly affects hunters who pursue ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasant, woodcock, or snipe in West Virginia. The bill requires all proceeds from the stamp to fund the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources' efforts to buy and release these birds into Wildlife Management Areas. The Division of Natural Resources will administer the stamp program under this bill.

Maddy summaryHB 2039 would allow volunteer firefighters in West Virginia with at least five years of service to receive free license plates and vehicle registration for one personal vehicle. The bill requires annual verification from the firefighter's fire chief confirming continued eligibility. It waives all associated license plate and registration fees for qualifying individuals, directly benefiting eligible volunteer firefighters statewide. The policy change is administrative, focusing solely on fee exemptions without altering other vehicle registration requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2041 changes West Virginia's foster care rules by extending the minimum time a foster care arrangement must continue before termination to 18 months, affecting foster parents and children in care. The bill specifies that foster placements cannot end after 18 months unless one of six conditions applies, such as a court order, the child returning to parents, sibling reunification, written agreement from foster parents, a 14-year-old child's request, or a court finding a better placement. It also requires foster parents to apply to adopt a child within 30 days of parental rights termination or risk termination, while allowing children 12+ to choose to stay in their current placement if it benefits them. These changes aim to stabilize foster care for children already in long-term arrangements.

Maddy summaryHB 2046 requires hospitals subject to West Virginia's Certificate of Need (CON) program to provide health care services to all patients enrolled in the Public Employees Insurance Act (PEIA), West Virginia's state employee health insurance program. This applies to all non-exempt CON hospitals, mandating they accept PEIA-covered patients without discrimination. The bill amends §16-2D-3(c) of the state code to explicitly state that CON hospitals must serve PEIA enrollees. It directly affects hospitals operating under the CON program and PEIA members, ensuring they receive covered services. The provision aims to expand access to care for state employees and their families within the existing CON regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryHB 2086 requires West Virginia's state superintendent and Department of Human Services to develop a strategic plan monitoring and improving reading and math skills for children currently or previously in foster care. It mandates an online academic support tool with videos, study guides, practice assessments, and after-school tutoring - available in all out-of-home placements and integrated with school systems - to address educational gaps. The bill also requires annual reports by December 31, starting in 2025, comparing foster children's educational outcomes to non-foster peers and evaluating the support program's effectiveness. This directly affects foster youth in West Virginia, aiming to improve their academic performance and future workforce readiness.