Del. Mickey Petitto

Maddy summaryHB 2756, the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act," creates a legal framework to protect individuals and entities filing or defending lawsuits involving constitutional rights like free speech, press, assembly, and petition on matters of public concern. It establishes expedited court procedures, allows immediate appeals for such cases, and permits recovery of attorney fees. The bill applies to lawsuits concerning communications about public issues (e.g., government actions or community matters), but explicitly excludes cases involving government employees acting officially, real property disputes, personal injury claims, or insurance matters. This law directly affects individuals, media, and organizations facing legal challenges over public expression, while streamlining judicial handling of these constitutional rights cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2801 prohibits West Virginia state and local government agencies (including counties, schools, and state departments) from purchasing electric vehicles or their components if they may contain forced labor or oppressive child labor. The bill defines "forced labor" as work obtained through coercion, fraud, or abuse of law, and "oppressive child labor" as employment of children under 14 in hazardous work like mining. It aligns with federal actions like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and restrictions on EV tax credits for components linked to forced labor in Xinjiang or child labor in cobalt mining. The bill is currently pending in the House Government Organization Committee after introduction on February 21, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2733, the Women’s Right to Know Act, requires healthcare providers to give patients specific information about abortion procedures - including printed materials and access to a state-run website - before performing an abortion in West Virginia. The bill defines "medical emergency" narrowly (excluding psychological conditions) and mandates that providers follow informed consent procedures even in emergencies when medically feasible. It also requires licensed medical professionals to report abortion procedures to the state. This bill directly affects patients seeking abortions and the healthcare providers who perform them in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2732 would amend West Virginia law to allow parents to exempt their children from school-required vaccines (chickenpox, measles, polio, and others) based on religious beliefs. Specifically, it adds a provision permitting parents to submit a notarized "Certificate of Religious Exemption" to schools instead of vaccination records. This change directly affects school-aged children and their families who object to vaccines on religious grounds. The bill maintains existing medical exemption requirements but creates a new pathway for religious objections, without altering the list of required vaccines or the school enrollment process for vaccinated students.

Maddy summaryHB 2757 amends West Virginia law to clarify definitions of terrorism and establish new criminal offenses, directly affecting individuals who commit or support terrorist acts. It creates mandatory sentencing for terrorism-related crimes (including membership in terrorist groups, "terrorist swatting," and using hoax devices), prohibits probation or suspended sentences, and requires restitution payments to victims for economic harm like lost wages or business shutdowns. The bill defines "terrorist act" broadly to include intimidation, policy influence, or retaliation against government, and designates fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. The Attorney General must identify terrorist groups, with members automatically deemed terrorists under this law.

Maddy summaryHB 2728 requires all health insurers in West Virginia to cover biodentical hormone treatments when determined medically necessary by a licensed physician after proper evaluation of symptoms or test results. The bill applies to all group and individual health insurance policies, including nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations, effective January 1, 2025. Insurers must provide coverage on an expense-incurred basis, treating biodentical hormones similarly to pharmaceutical alternatives. This policy change directly affects patients seeking hormone therapy and insurers offering health coverage in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2729 prohibits mandatory vaccine requirements for students in private, parochial, charter, virtual charter, and remote public schools in West Virginia. It removes applicability of existing vaccine mandates (§16-3-4) for these schools while requiring student athletes to still follow athletic commission rules on physicals and vaccinations. The bill directly affects students attending these specific school types by exempting them from state vaccine mandates. It does not change athletic program requirements, as student athletes must continue adhering to existing guidelines for participation.

Maddy summaryHB 2754 prohibits foreign entities from funding West Virginia election administration activities (such as voter registration or ballot preparation). It requires organizations seeking to work with state or local governments on these activities to certify annually whether they receive foreign donations, with updates within five business days if new information arises. The Secretary of State must maintain and publish these certifications online while auditing compliance quarterly. Violations - including false certifications - carry fines of three times the donation amount plus court costs, and agreements with violators become invalid.

Maddy summaryHB 2700 modifies West Virginia's requirements for obtaining licenses as funeral directors and embalmers. It clarifies that applicants must complete either an associate degree in mortuary science, 60+ academic credits toward a bachelor's in mortuary science, or a bachelor's degree in mortuary science, along with specific apprenticeship hours. The bill also specifies that apprentices must perform at least 35 embalming procedures and conduct 35 funeral services during their training, and requires passing a 75% minimum score on licensing exams. These changes apply to new license applicants seeking to work in funeral services within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2698 would remove West Virginia's legal requirement for vehicles to undergo periodic safety and emissions inspections. This change directly affects all vehicle owners in the state, eliminating the need for annual inspections at designated stations and removing associated fees. The bill repeals all existing provisions (§17C-16-1 through §17C-16-9) that mandated inspections, required inspection certificates, or imposed penalties for non-compliance. If enacted, vehicles would no longer need to be inspected to remain legally registered or operated.