Del. Evan Hansen

Maddy summaryHB 2900 establishes West Virginia's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Benefits Act, creating a state-run insurance program to provide wage replacement for eligible workers taking leave for family or medical reasons. The program requires contributions from employees and employers (with self-employed individuals able to opt in under specific conditions) and provides benefits for up to 12 weeks annually for qualifying events like childbirth, caring for a sick family member, or serious personal health conditions. It protects workers from retaliation for using benefits, integrates with existing federal family and medical leave laws, and creates a dedicated fund managed by the Insurance Commissioner. The law directly affects West Virginia workers and employers, replacing the need for employers to provide unpaid leave through this insurance-based system.

Maddy summaryHB 2907 prohibits violence or intimidation targeting individuals due to disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, expanding existing civil rights protections in West Virginia. It makes such acts a felony punishable by up to $5,000 fines or 10 years in prison, while specifying that protected speech or associations cannot be used as evidence unless directly tied to the crime. The bill also mandates judges to consider alternative sentencing, such as community corrections programs, for convicted individuals and requires courts to assess whether rehabilitation or reintegration is possible. This law, designated as "Angel’s Law," applies to anyone violating these civil rights in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2887 would legalize cannabis production, sales, and adult consumption for individuals aged 21 and older in West Virginia, but only after counties hold voter referendums to approve local implementation. It establishes a regulatory framework where the Bureau of Public Health would issue licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, and retail sales, while the Department of Revenue would collect a special excise tax and manage local sales tax revenue for county governments. The bill preserves existing laws prohibiting underage use, driving under the influence, and workplace cannabis use, and requires cannabis products to be labeled and tested like alcohol. It explicitly states this law does not affect the current West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2857, the Workplace Bullying Accountability Act, requires West Virginia employers to prevent and address workplace bullying that causes physical or psychological harm to employees. It mandates employers to create written anti-bullying policies, provide annual employee training, and conduct good-faith investigations into reports of bullying. The law defines "workplace bullying" as repeated harmful conduct (e.g., verbal abuse, sabotage, intimidation) causing health impacts, and prohibits retaliation against employees who report incidents or participate in investigations. Employees harmed by bullying may seek remedies, including reinstatement or compensation, while employers face liability for failing to fulfill their duty to safeguard workers. This bill directly affects all West Virginia employers and employees by establishing enforceable protections beyond current workers' compensation or safety laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2765 amends West Virginia's medical cannabis law by clarifying definitions related to patient eligibility certification. It updates the definition of "certified medical use" to specify that it includes "enabling the patient to tolerate treatment for the serious medical condition" and revises other key terms like "patient," "caregiver," and "continuing care." The bill does not change who qualifies for medical cannabis but refines how eligibility and treatment are documented within the existing program. This procedural update directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and the Bureau for Public Health as they implement certification under the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act. The bill was introduced on February 21, 2025, and referred to the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2771 removes an exemption that allowed nonprofit workshops to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, directly affecting current employees in such settings. It mandates the creation of a task force to develop a state "Employment First Policy" prioritizing integrated competitive employment - where disabled workers earn minimum wage in mainstream workplaces alongside non-disabled colleagues. The bill repeals outdated provisions (§18-10Q-4 and §18-10Q-5) that permitted below-minimum-wage employment and requires state agencies to implement the new policy. This shifts focus from segregated workshops to helping disabled workers access regular jobs with fair pay.

Maddy summaryHB 2764 establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw West Virginia's congressional and state legislative district boundaries after each census. The commission, composed of six members (equal party representation with geographic balance across all congressional districts), must develop maps based on census data while following strict fairness criteria like population equality. It requires public comment periods on draft maps, prohibits current elected officials or lobbyists from serving, and mandates that the final plan be submitted to the full Legislature for approval. This bill directly affects how district lines are drawn for all West Virginia voters, shifting the redistricting process from the Legislature to a dedicated independent body.

Maddy summaryHB 2763 would expand West Virginia's Human Rights Act and Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." The bill adds these categories to existing protections covering race, religion, sex, age, disability, and other characteristics in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It specifically defines "gender identity" as an individual's actual or perceived gender-related identity, expression, appearance, or mannerisms, regardless of sex assigned at birth. This bill directly affects all West Virginia residents seeking employment, housing, or access to public spaces by making these forms of discrimination unlawful under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 2682 amends West Virginia's workers' compensation law (§23-4-2) but does not address occupational pneumoconiosis as its title suggests. The bill establishes specific rules for intoxication-related claims: employees are deemed intoxicated if blood alcohol exceeds 0.05% within two hours of an accident, or if nonprescribed drugs are detected. This affects workers filing injury claims, as intoxication can bar compensation or establish it as the cause of injury. The bill also clarifies that employers lose immunity from lawsuits only if proven to have acted with "deliberate intention" to cause injury, requiring specific proof of intent or prior knowledge of dangerous conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 2555 revises ethical standards for West Virginia's Public Service Commission, directly affecting its commissioners. The bill requires commissioners to publish their financial statements online annually, updates criteria for determining actions that serve the "public interest," and repeals outdated provisions like §§24-1-1a and 24-1-1b. It also mandates that commission members follow the state's code of judicial conduct, aligning their conduct with broader public ethics standards. These changes aim to increase transparency and clarify ethical expectations for utility regulators.