Rep. Bryan Ward

Maddy summaryHB 3378 establishes a legal expectation of privacy in West Virginia legislators' private offices within the State Capitol or official legislative spaces. It makes it illegal for anyone - including staff, visitors, or journalists - to record audio, video, or electronic communications without the legislator’s prior consent, or to install surveillance devices without written permission. Exceptions include security measures by Capitol personnel, recordings with explicit consent, and court-authorized surveillance. Violating this law would be a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill directly affects legislators, their staff, and anyone entering legislative offices.

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 3319, the "Restoring Sanity Act," prohibits West Virginia public schools and state universities from requiring instruction, course content, or statements about specific concepts deemed "factual" or "beliefs" related to race, gender, or sexuality. It bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at public colleges and redirects funds from such offices to merit scholarships for lower-income, first-generation, or in-state students. The bill also requires schools to report complaints about violations and prohibits employees from being required to use a student's preferred pronoun if it conflicts with their biological sex, while clarifying that using biological sex-based pronouns does not create legal liability. These provisions apply directly to school districts, public charter schools, the West Virginia Board of Education, and state universities.

Maddy summaryHB 3308 terminates West Virginia's Health Care Authority's certificate of need program, which previously required health care facilities to seek state approval before expanding services. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health providers that previously needed certificate approvals for new services or expansions. The bill repeals all related statutes, transfers the Authority's remaining powers, assets, records, and employees to the Secretary of the Department of Health, and moves funds to the general revenue fund. It also establishes a new summary review process for certain behavioral health services to meet federal Medicaid waiver requirements, but eliminates the broader certificate of need requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 3309 would amend West Virginia's retirement law to allow sheriffs in the public retirement system to retire at age 62 with eight years of actual, contributing service, instead of the standard 10 years required for newer members. This change specifically applies to sheriffs who became members through their election as sheriff and are not covered by another retirement plan. The bill creates a separate retirement eligibility standard for sheriffs, lowering the service requirement from 10 to 8 years. This policy directly affects eligible sheriffs by providing an earlier retirement option under the amended law.

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.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's House Concurrent Resolution 84 is a symbolic statement opposing China's misuse of UN Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from international organizations. It clarifies that UNGA Resolution 2758 only addresses which government represents "China" in the UN and never intended to settle Taiwan's political status. The resolution urges the UN to stop using the resolution to deny Taiwan participation in UN bodies and reaffirms that the U.S. "one China policy" does not recognize China's claim over Taiwan. It emphasizes that UNGA Resolution 2758 does not prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations like the WHO or ICAO. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal force but expresses legislative position on diplomatic matters.

Maddy summaryHB 3132 sets new requirements for commercial dog breeders in West Virginia, defined as those maintaining 11 or more unsterilized dogs over one year for breeding. It mandates annual permits with county-set fees (capped at $350 for smaller "Class I" operations and $750 for larger "Class II" operations), with funds directed to animal shelters and spay/neuter programs. Breeders must obtain annual vet certifications for breeding females, maintain rabies certificates for all dogs, include permit numbers in advertisements and on cages, and provide written buyer disclosures. The bill directly affects commercial breeders operating at scale, aiming to standardize care and transparency in dog sales.

Maddy summaryHB 3194 provides a pay increase for West Virginia Capitol Police officers and support staff to address retention challenges. It mandates a $15,000 annual raise for all Capitol Police officers and a $7,500 annual raise for support staff, effective July 1, 2025. Funding will come from existing Capitol Police general revenue appropriations, as specified in the bill. This measure directly affects all employees of the Capitol Police Division at West Virginia Capitol Complex properties.

Maddy summaryHB 3106 would increase the retirement multiplier for West Virginia deputy sheriffs from 2.75% to 3.0% of their final average salary per year of service. This change directly affects current and future deputy sheriffs enrolled in the state's Deputy Sheriff Retirement System by increasing their pension benefits. The bill amends Section 7-14D-2 of West Virginia Code to adjust the calculation method for accrued retirement benefits. This is a specific policy change to the pension formula, not a new benefit program.