Del. John Paul Hott

Maddy summaryHB 2785 requires dental insurance carriers in West Virginia to publicly report how much of collected premiums are spent on actual dental care versus administrative costs, using a "dental loss ratio" (DLR) calculation. If a carrier’s DLR falls below 80% (the minimum threshold), they must issue rebates to enrollees for excess premiums collected. The bill mandates annual reports detailing premium spending, enrollee data, and coverage limits, with findings made searchable on a public state website by January 1 each year. This directly affects private dental insurance companies (excluding Medicaid/CHIP plans) and their enrollees by increasing transparency and financial accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 3034 establishes the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program to provide financial aid for child-care workers pursuing degrees in early childhood education at state community colleges. The program targets workers at eligible facilities (caring for six or more children) and requires recipients to work in West Virginia child-care settings for at least two years after graduation. Administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, it aims to address staffing shortages in child-care by making higher education more accessible. The bill mandates annual reporting on program outcomes to track its impact on workforce participation and child-care quality.

Maddy summaryHB 3032 would automatically extend West Virginia's corporate net income tax filing deadline for businesses that receive an automatic extension from the federal government. Specifically, it changes the due date for state tax returns to be no later than one month after the federal deadline, including any federal extension period. This applies to corporations filing state returns for tax years starting January 1, 2026, and eliminates late-filing penalties for taxpayers who file within that one-month window after their federal extension ends. The bill directly affects corporations that already qualify for federal filing extensions, aligning state and federal tax deadlines without requiring additional applications.

Maddy summaryHB 3033 shortens the time limit for suing over contract disputes in West Virginia. It reduces the statute of limitations for written contracts from 10 years to 5 years and for oral contracts from 5 years to 3 years. This change directly affects individuals and businesses entering into written or verbal agreements, as they would have less time to file legal claims if a contract is breached. The bill amends West Virginia Code §55-2-6 to align the state's rules with those of most other states. The legislation is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee after its introduction on February 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2999 amends West Virginia law to extend the payment deadline for fees charged by county fire prevention units from 75 days to 180 days after a fire service response. This change directly affects property owners, businesses, or individuals responsible for paying fire department charges for services like firefighting, rescue, or hazardous material cleanup. The bill requires these fees to be itemized in writing and allows fire departments to pursue legal action for unpaid fees after 90 days if no payment plan is established. The amendment specifically updates Section 7-1-3d of the West Virginia Code regarding fee collection timelines.

Maddy summaryHB 3022 would allow West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates featuring autism awareness. Vehicle owners who apply can choose this plate design by paying a $10 one-time fee and a $15 annual fee, with both fees deposited into the State Road Fund. The bill amends existing law to authorize this specific plate type, without changing autism support services or funding. It directly affects West Virginia residents who wish to display this awareness plate on their vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 3023 requires every West Virginia county school board to employ at least one full-time school nurse for each public school, based on kindergarten through seventh-grade enrollment (one nurse per 1,500 students or major fraction). County boards may contract with public health departments for equivalent services if approved by the state board, and the state may provide funding to support additional health services beyond the minimum requirement. The bill mandates school nurses be licensed registered professionals and establishes standards for trained school employees (like teachers or aides) to assist with specialized health procedures under nurse supervision. It also creates a council of school nurses to develop training standards and recommends a procedural manual for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2784 amends West Virginia's workers' compensation laws to clarify that employers maintaining proper coverage are generally exempt from lawsuits for employee injuries. It specifies employees cannot recover under workers' comp for self-inflicted injuries or injuries caused by their own intoxication, while requiring employers to have reasonable suspicion before testing for intoxication. The bill adds that employees may recover if an injury resulted from an employer's "deliberate intention" to cause harm. It repeals an outdated section (§23-2-6a) related to exemptions for employer officers and managers. This bill directly affects employees and employers in West Virginia's workers' compensation system.

Maddy summaryHB 2783 would require West Virginia's Division of Natural Resources to establish new rules for hunting antlered deer, subject to legislative approval. The rules would limit hunters to harvesting two antlered deer per season: the first can be taken by any method, but the second must have at least three scorable points on one antler. Hunters would not be permitted to harvest additional antlered deer after reaching this two-deer limit. This bill directly affects licensed deer hunters in West Virginia by setting specific, measurable criteria for antlered deer harvests.

Maddy summaryHB 2788 allows West Virginia State Police officers to convert unused annual or sick leave into retirement credit or to help cover health insurance costs. Officers would receive two days of retirement credit for every day of accrued leave used, calculated based on 20 workdays per month of service. However, officers who joined the retirement system on or after July 1, 2015, cannot use leave to increase retirement credit (though they may still use it for health insurance). The bill applies specifically to members of the West Virginia State Police Retirement System.