Del. Lisa White

Maddy summaryHB 2938 would allow pharmacists in West Virginia to sell ivermectin over the counter without a prescription, directly affecting pharmacies and residents seeking the medication. The bill amends state law to remove the requirement for a prescription for ivermectin, permitting its sale, distribution, or possession by individuals without medical authorization. This change applies specifically to human-use ivermectin, not veterinary products. The legislation does not alter medical guidelines or safety standards but shifts access from prescription-dependent to over-the-counter availability. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Human Resources Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2834 requires all West Virginia public schools to observe a one-minute period of silence at the start of each school day in every classroom. This applies directly to county school boards (which must implement the policy) and classroom teachers (who must ensure students remain seated and silent without suggesting any specific activity, such as prayer or meditation). The bill prohibits teachers from making recommendations about what students should do during the silence to avoid influencing their choices. It also mandates that the Office of the Attorney General defend the law if challenged legally. The policy aims to guarantee students' individual freedom to engage in silent reflection without state pressure.

Maddy summaryHB 2798 creates a pilot program for public high schools in West Virginia to offer a trades-focused elective course. This course, taught at community colleges across the state, replaces standard English, language arts, and science instruction with trade-specific content while counting toward graduation credit. It directly affects high school students interested in trade careers by providing career preparation, resume help, and exposure to available trade fields. The pilot, funded through existing state resources and potential industry grants, begins in the 2025/2026 school year and requires annual reports on its effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 2734 requires all West Virginia public K-12 schools to display their annual school report cards on their official websites. It also mandates that county boards of education use the state's existing electronic system for collecting and reporting school data to the state education department. This ensures parents and community members can easily access school performance information online without needing to request it. The bill applies directly to every public school and county school board in the state, standardizing how school accountability data is shared publicly.

Maddy summaryHB 2726 would require West Virginia's State Board of Education to stop administering all standardized tests in both public and private schools starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill directly affects all K-12 schools in the state by eliminating a long-standing testing requirement. Its key provision mandates the State Board to cease all standardized testing, removing this requirement from school operations. The change applies to every school year beginning in 2025-2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2732 would amend West Virginia law to allow parents to exempt their children from school-required vaccines (chickenpox, measles, polio, and others) based on religious beliefs. Specifically, it adds a provision permitting parents to submit a notarized "Certificate of Religious Exemption" to schools instead of vaccination records. This change directly affects school-aged children and their families who object to vaccines on religious grounds. The bill maintains existing medical exemption requirements but creates a new pathway for religious objections, without altering the list of required vaccines or the school enrollment process for vaccinated students.

Maddy summaryHB 2793 prohibits billboards near West Virginia's borders from displaying messages about abortion availability in neighboring states, including facility names, provider details, or any encouragement to seek abortions. It directly affects billboard operators and businesses that advertise abortion services in states bordering West Virginia. The law requires the Secretary of State to permanently revoke business licenses for violations, with enforcement through reports from residents or the Division of Highways. This bill targets advertising that facilitates out-of-state abortion access, aligning with West Virginia’s existing abortion ban and stated interest in protecting prenatal life.

Maddy summaryHB 2739 would remove the mandatory helmet requirement for motorcycle operators and passengers in West Virginia. It specifically amends §17C-15-44 of the state code, which currently requires helmets meeting ANSI Z90.1, DOT FMVSS 218, or Snell safety standards. This change would directly affect all motorcycle riders and passengers who previously had to wear helmets meeting those specifications. The bill does not alter other safety provisions in the same section, such as requirements for eye protection or vehicle equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 2799 protects employees in West Virginia who use reasonable force (including deadly force when justified) to defend themselves or others from an attack at their workplace. It prohibits employers from terminating an employee solely for such defensive actions, ensuring workers cannot face job loss for acting in self-defense during an attack. The bill specifically allows the use of deadly force without a duty to retreat if an employee reasonably believes they or others face imminent death or serious harm. This amendment expands existing self-defense protections to explicitly cover workplace scenarios, aligning with the bill's stated purpose of shielding workers from employment retaliation.

Maddy summaryHB 2794, the "Life at Conception Act of 2025," declares that the right to life guaranteed by the U.S. and West Virginia constitutions applies to all human beings from the moment of fertilization. It defines "human person" to include every member of the human species at all stages, starting at conception, and explicitly states the bill does not criminalize women for pregnancy outcomes or restrict in vitro fertilization, birth control, or other fertility prevention methods. The bill establishes this constitutional interpretation as policy but does not create new criminal penalties or alter existing medical procedures. It directly affects the legal definition of personhood for all individuals from conception onward.