Del. Buck Jennings

Maddy summaryHB 3473 requires West Virginia county commissions to provide emergency ambulance service to all residents within their county, provided they have allocated funds for this purpose in their budget. It mandates that county commissions submit an annual report by September 1st to the Office of Emergency Medical Services, detailing how ambulance services are provided and the exact amount of county funds spent on these services in the previous fiscal year. The bill clarifies that counties are not required to provide ambulance service if they lack sufficient funds in their budget, and service levels must align with available funding. This directly affects county commissions (as the reporting entities) and residents (who receive or are eligible for ambulance services).

Maddy summaryHB 3420 allows West Virginia county commissions to establish a voluntary fee on county residents to support local volunteer fire departments. The fee, which residents may choose not to pay, funds a dedicated "Volunteer Firefighter Service Fund" managed by the county commission. Disbursements from the fund are paid to eligible volunteer firefighters after they complete 10 years of service, with the county commission determining the payment amount and schedule. All funds must be used exclusively for supporting volunteer firefighters and cannot be diverted to other purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 3472 expands eligibility for West Virginia's Invests Grant Program to include associate degrees or certificates in emergency medical services (EMS) programs. It specifically modifies existing eligibility rules to allow individuals who already hold a post-secondary degree to qualify if they pursue EMS credentials, adding this pathway to §18C-9-5(a)(3) of the law. The bill does not change other core requirements, such as West Virginia residency, enrollment in at least six credits per semester, drug testing, community service (eight hours annually), or repayment terms for graduates who leave the state within two years. This change directly affects current and prospective EMS students seeking financial aid through the state's grant program.

Maddy summaryHB 3470 prevents surprise billing for ground ambulance services by requiring insurers to pay out-of-network ambulance providers directly at 400% of Medicare rates (or the provider’s billed charge, whichever is lower) within 30 days of a clean claim. It prohibits charging patients extra beyond standard copays/coinsurance they’d pay for in-network services and mandates written denial notices for denied claims. The law applies to health insurance policies issued after January 1, 2026, protecting patients and setting clear payment rules for ambulance providers and insurers.

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 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 3341 expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders in West Virginia. It allows specific licensed mental health professionals - such as psychologists, licensed counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners - to diagnose PTSD as a compensable injury, rather than restricting it to psychiatrists alone. Employers must elect to cover PTSD under their workers' compensation policies, and claims must be filed within three years of diagnosis. The law applies only to diagnoses made on or after July 1, 2021, and expires on July 1, 2026, unless extended by the legislature. This directly affects law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and emergency dispatchers who develop PTSD from work-related traumatic events.

Maddy summaryHB 3077 creates a tax credit for West Virginia employers who hire interns or apprentices in high-demand fields like manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and skilled trades (e.g., electricians, welders). Employers receive a 50% credit on wages paid (up to $10,000 per trainee annually), with a maximum $150,000 total credit per business yearly. The credit excludes retail, food service, administrative roles, and non-technical positions. Employers must apply for certification through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to claim the credit and report trainee details annually.

Maddy summaryHB 3220 creates a statewide moratorium on public school closures and consolidations in West Virginia, except for cases of catastrophic structural failure or unresolved safety hazards. It requires the West Virginia Department of Education to review closures considered over the past five years and propose changes to the school funding formula that would prevent at least 80% of those closures based on financial or operational factors. The moratorium remains in effect until the legislature receives the proposed formula and takes action on it. This directly affects all West Virginia public school districts and students by delaying closure decisions pending the new funding approach.

Maddy summaryHB 3291 (West Virginia House Bill 3291) increases penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. It directly affects businesses and organizations in West Virginia that employ unauthorized workers, imposing escalating fines: $1,000-$10,000 for a first offense, $5,000-$20,000 for a second, and $10,000-$30,000 plus up to one year in jail for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also penalizes employers who provide false work status records or transfer assets to evade these requirements, with fines of $1,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. These provisions amend existing West Virginia law (§21-1B-5) to strengthen enforcement against unauthorized employment.