Del. Joe Statler

Maddy summaryHB 3419 allows West Virginia counties to impose a 0.25% sales tax specifically for funding local emergency medical services (EMS). The tax applies to most retail purchases (excluding motor vehicles, fuel, and exempt items) and must be used exclusively for county EMS operations, personnel, equipment, and emergency response services for both residents and visitors. County commissions must establish funding rates based on actual EMS calls and treatments, with revenue distributed monthly by the Tax Commissioner from the Local Sales Tax Fund. This bill directly affects counties that adopt the tax and ensures funds cannot be diverted to other purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 3448 creates a $10 special fee on all criminal court cases (excluding parking violations) in West Virginia, starting July 1, 2025. The collected fees fund the Emergency Medical Services Equipment and Training Fund, which provides grants to local EMS providers. Grants follow a 70% state/30% local matching requirement, with priority given to rural and volunteer EMS services for equipment and training. This directly affects criminal defendants through the fee and EMS providers through funding access.

Maddy summaryHCR 92 is a non-binding legislative resolution prohibiting compensation for assisting veterans with benefits applications, except as permitted under federal law. It bans charging fees for preparing, presenting, or advising on veterans' benefits claims, guaranteeing specific benefit amounts, or charging excessive fees. The resolution requires written agreements meeting federal fee standards (38 CFR §14.636) before any assistance is provided. It aims to protect veterans from exploitative fees when seeking benefits support.

Maddy summaryHB 3383 creates the Great Expectations Pilot Program to support West Virginia youth aging out of foster care in transitioning to community college. The program pairs eligible foster youth (those who were in foster care when earning their high school diploma or GED) with full-time coaches at a single community college, who provide personalized guidance on college applications, financial aid, transportation, career planning, and accessing support services. It allocates $95,000 annually from state general revenue to cover the coach's salary, benefits, and program resources. The three-year pilot, starting September 2025 at one college, will be evaluated in 2029 to determine potential statewide expansion.

Maddy summaryHB 2855 defines "first-generation status" for college admissions in West Virginia as applying to applicants whose custodial parents have not completed a U.S. bachelor's degree. This definition directly affects college applicants seeking admission, particularly those from families without a bachelor's degree in the immediate or extended family. The bill establishes four demographic levels to categorize applicants (e.g., parents who attended but didn't complete college, or no family college attendance) to align with federal standards. Its key purpose is to standardize how colleges collect this data to qualify students for federal benefits like scholarships and support services.

Maddy summaryHB 3201 amends West Virginia's medical cannabis law to permit edible forms (such as gummies and lozenges) for the first time, adding them to the list of approved product types. The bill establishes strict safety rules for edibles, including a 10-milligram THC limit per serving (with a 15% variance), mandatory bureau approval for each product, and prohibitions on candy-like appearance, color additives, or additives that increase potency. It also requires dispensaries to report all medical cannabis sales to the state's controlled substance monitoring database. This bill directly affects patients and caregivers using edibles, as well as businesses that produce or sell medical cannabis products.

Maddy summaryHB 2166 establishes a Behavioral Health Workforce Education Initiative at West Virginia's Higher Education Policy Commission to address shortages in critical mental health and behavioral health fields. It creates a dedicated revolving fund to provide financial support (minimum $10,000 for most fields, $20,000 for medical/dental students) to West Virginia residents enrolled in qualifying programs like nurse practitioner, clinical psychology, or social work degrees. Recipients must agree to work in underserved areas of the state for two years after graduation or repay the support, with license renewal in West Virginia contingent on full repayment. The bill also sets eligibility criteria, repayment terms, and administrative procedures for the initiative.

Maddy summaryHB 2515 requires West Virginia K-6 teachers to document and report student behavior that is violent, threatening, intimidating, or creates an unsafe learning environment. Teachers must file a report in the WVEIS system within 24 hours of excluding a student, and students excluded three times in a month may face in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or alternative learning center placement. The bill clarifies it does not conflict with federal disability laws (IDEA and Section 504) and prohibits suspending students solely for absenteeism. It also mandates the State Board adopt a statewide disciplinary policy for grades 6-12. This directly affects elementary school teachers, students with disruptive behavior, and school administrators managing discipline.

Maddy summaryHB 2170 allows volunteer fire departments in West Virginia to use their existing Fire Protection Fund money to cover costs associated with switching to the State Auditor's online financial tracking system (West Virginia Checkbook). This includes expenses like purchasing computers, hiring accountants, or other technology needed to meet a new state requirement. Departments must implement this system by January 1, 2026, to continue receiving funding. The bill directly affects volunteer fire departments by expanding how they can allocate their current fire protection funds for this transition.

Maddy summaryHB 2965 redirects employer payments currently made to West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Association (PEIA) into a Health Savings Account (HSA) for state employees. Starting July 1, 2025, eligible employees would receive $1,100 monthly into their HSA, which they can use to pay for healthcare insurance premiums and related expenses. Employees would choose their own healthcare plans using these funds instead of being enrolled in PEIA. The bill changes how employer contributions are delivered but does not alter existing insurance coverage options.