Del. Geno Chiarelli

Maddy summaryHB 3399 updates West Virginia's licensing requirements for dietitians and nutritionists by mandating state licensure to use titles like "dietitian," "licensed dietitian," "nutritionist," or "licensed nutritionist" and to provide medical nutrition therapy, effective June 30, 2025. The bill re-establishes the Board of Dieticians to oversee licensing, define professional scope, and set qualifications for practitioners. It includes exemptions for individuals marketing food/supplements without using protected titles, other licensed health professionals practicing within their scope, and supervised students. The legislation aims to standardize qualifications while clarifying that federal nutrition credentials do not replace state licensing for these titles or services.

Maddy summaryHB 2381 allows West Virginia residents to vote in municipal elections of cities they don't live in, provided they meet specific conditions. To qualify, voters must either own property in the municipality for 60 consecutive days (holding at least 50% ownership), pay municipal fees during the prior year, or own 25% of a business that paid local taxes. The bill prohibits nonresidents from voting for ward-specific representatives and requires them to register with the county clerk before voter registration closes, providing documentation of eligibility. It ensures nonresidents cast only one vote per municipality and aligns with the "one person - one vote" principle. Municipalities must provide paper ballots for nonresidents at assigned precincts.

Maddy summaryHB 2934 requires West Virginia's child welfare department to prioritize housing applications (like HUD or government-assisted housing) for youth aging out of foster care who have turned 18 and do not qualify for transitional living services. The bill amends §49-2-129 to mandate that housing search policies ensure dwellings are safe, affordable, and equipped for basic needs like cooking and emergency communication. It directly affects foster youth aged 18+ transitioning to independent living, who often face housing instability. The key mechanism is the new priority system for housing applications, replacing previous eligibility criteria for this vulnerable group.

Maddy summaryHB 2883 creates a state-maintained directory of e-cigarette products (ENDS) sold in West Virginia, requiring manufacturers to certify FDA compliance annually. Manufacturers must submit documentation proving their products have FDA marketing authorization or a valid premarket application, pay a $100 fee per product, and list all brands, categories, and flavors. Only products appearing on this publicly accessible directory - updated monthly - can be legally sold, with retailers facing unannounced compliance checks. The Alcohol Beverage Control Administration enforces the rule, imposing fines for violations like selling non-listed products or failing to update certifications. This directly affects e-cigarette manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryHB 2560 creates a certification program for "Infrastructure Ready Jurisdictions" in West Virginia, allowing counties or municipalities to qualify by adhering only to state-mandated permitting rules. Political subdivisions that meet this standard receive a 5% preferential scoring boost on all state infrastructure grant applications for projects within their certified boundaries. This benefit applies to both public and private projects but does not extend to uncertified municipalities - even if surrounding counties are certified. The bill requires the Department of Economic Development to establish certification rules and ensures the scoring preference does not override federal grant requirements. (Bill status: Passed House, pending in Senate as of March 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 2697 prohibits all state-funded colleges, universities, and community colleges in West Virginia from charging students, former students, or graduates for academic transcripts. The bill directly affects these institutions and their students by banning transcript fees as a standard practice. Key provision: It amends state law to explicitly state that no such institution may impose a fee for issuing transcripts. This is a concrete policy change eliminating a common administrative cost for students. The bill does not alter other fees or services.

Maddy summaryHB 2689 requires websites that primarily offer pornography to verify the age of users before allowing access, aiming to prevent minors from viewing such content. It targets commercial entities where pornography constitutes a "substantial portion" of their content, mandating "reasonable" age verification methods. The bill creates civil liability for non-compliance, allowing lawsuits against violators, while exempting internet service providers from liability for hosting content they didn’t create. It defines "minor" as under 18 and "sexual material harmful to minors" using community standards and explicit content criteria. The law provides a five-year statute of limitations for civil actions and excludes certain news organizations from coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 3066 requires West Virginia's Corrections Commissioner to create an "Orange Alert" system that notifies registered crime victims within a 40-mile radius when a prisoner escapes or is released from a state correctional facility or jail. Victims must proactively register to receive these alerts, with registration details published in local newspapers. The bill mandates this system for all state correctional facilities and jails, making registration the victim's responsibility rather than automatic notification. This policy change establishes a formal notification framework but does not require automatic alerts for all victims.

Maddy summaryHB 3236 requires West Virginia's Secretary of Health to establish a new long-term psychiatric and mental health facility specifically designed to serve homeless individuals. The bill mandates this facility as part of state-owned health infrastructure, directly affecting homeless residents needing sustained mental health care. Key provisions include the Secretary adopting operational rules for the facility and implementing performance metrics by January 1, 2025. This policy change creates a dedicated state-run resource for homeless individuals with mental health needs, rather than relying on existing services.

Maddy summaryHB 2117 changes the deadline for submitting mail-in ballot applications in West Virginia. It requires most voters' applications to be received by the sixth day before an election, while qualified first responders must submit theirs by 5:00 p.m. the day before the election. The bill maintains the same deadline (six days before) for overseas and uniformed services voters. This affects all voters requesting mail-in ballots, adjusting the timing for when applications must be accepted by election officials.