Del. Lisa White

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 3298 prohibits West Virginia colleges and universities from requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot to enroll in or attend in-person classes. This law directly affects students at these institutions by removing vaccination as a mandatory condition for in-person education. The key provision adds a new section to state law (§18B-14-12) that bans such requirements, making it illegal for any college or university in West Virginia to impose them. The bill does not change other health policies or apply to remote learning options.

Maddy summaryHB 3219 would allow certain nonviolent offenders, including those convicted of specific drug offenses currently classified as violent under West Virginia law, to carry firearms. The bill amends §61-7-7 by removing the requirement that these drug offenses (listed in §60A-4-401-403 and §60A-4-409-417) be treated as violent, thereby eliminating the five-year waiting period for reinstating firearm rights after release from incarceration. This change would directly affect individuals with past nonviolent drug convictions who are currently barred from possessing firearms under current law. The bill also clarifies that law enforcement may not infringe on the right to bear arms for nonprohibited individuals over 21 years old.

Maddy summaryHB 3171, the "Citizen and State Accountability Act," requires state and local government agencies to seek the Governor's approval before accepting certain grants. For grants over $1 million (defined as "major grants"), agencies must submit a detailed 60-day analysis covering costs, policy impacts, and compliance requirements to the Governor and a fiscal office. For smaller grants ($1 million or less, "minor grants"), agencies must notify the Governor one week before applying. The bill mandates public reporting of all grant applications and requires the Governor to provide written consent for major grants or block minor grants entirely, with all grant details recorded in a public database.

Maddy summaryHB 3238 requires all West Virginia elections to use paper ballots exclusively and restricts absentee voting eligibility to only active U.S. military members (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) or voters with disabilities. The bill eliminates current absentee categories, including voters traveling for work or education, college students, first responders, and those using emergency absentee ballots. It takes effect for the 2026 primary election and applies to all subsequent primary and general elections. This change directly affects most voters who currently qualify for absentee voting by mail or in person. The legislation removes provisions allowing absentee voting for reasons like medical confinement, incarceration (non-felony), or remote work.

Maddy summaryHB 3217 requires the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to notify the public within 24 hours of any hazardous spill into state waters - including rivers, wells, or groundwater - released by entities like industrial facilities or chemical handlers. The bill mandates notifications include the spill location, substance type and quantity, health/environmental risks (like drinking water impacts), public precautions (e.g., water use restrictions), and cleanup steps, delivered via DEP websites, media, and emergency alerts. It also requires spill-reporting entities to immediately notify the DEP and Emergency Management Division, with potential civil penalties for failures to report. The DEP must maintain a public online database tracking all spills and remediation efforts. This directly affects environmental agencies, spill-causing entities, and communities near affected waterways.

Maddy summaryHB 3216 requires West Virginia poll workers to manually count physical ballots at each precinct after voting ends, using the printed audit trail from electronic voting machines. This applies to all precincts conducting elections statewide and mandates that poll workers reconcile the manual count with the electronic tally to verify accuracy. The bill also requires transparency by allowing observers to witness the count, securely storing all records, and providing training for election staff on these procedures. It does not change voting methods or eligibility but adds a verification step to election processes.

Maddy summaryHB 3198 prohibits West Virginia state agencies from using taxpayer funds to subsidize private businesses. The bill defines "private enterprise" as businesses managed by independent companies or individuals and requires all current subsidies to end by July 1, 2025. It also bans future use of state funds for such subsidies, applying to all taxpayer-derived monies. This directly affects private businesses currently receiving state subsidies, eliminating both existing and future financial support from the state budget.

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 3195 amends West Virginia law to redefine the composition of the Hope Scholarship Board, which oversees the state's education scholarship program. The bill specifies a nine-member board including three state officials (Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General), three education officials (Superintendent, Higher Education Chancellor, Minority Affairs Director), and three parent members appointed by the Governor. These parent members must be West Virginia residents with children using or intending to use the scholarship, reside in geographically diverse areas, and represent diverse educational options like microschools. The changes focus solely on board governance structure, not scholarship eligibility or funding.