Sen. Laura Chapman

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 3) creates a Select Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health for the Eighty-Seventh Legislature. The committee, appointed by the Senate Presiding Officer (up to 17 members), will gather information on prevention, treatment, research, policies, access to care, and funding related to substance use disorders and mental health. It may meet during legislative interims and has jurisdiction over related legislative proposals, operating under Senate committee rules. This is a procedural resolution establishing a committee, not a law changing policy.

Maddy summarySB 429 creates a tax credit covering up to 50% of the cost for West Virginia veterans' lifetime hunting or fishing licenses. It applies to West Virginia residents who were honorably discharged from military service and have already purchased a lifetime license. The credit is capped at half the standard adult fee for such licenses and can only be applied once against state income taxes in the year the license was purchased. It does not cover annual licenses or allow unused credit to carry forward to future tax years.

Maddy summarySB 430 prohibits health insurance plans in West Virginia from charging deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for specific breast examinations. It applies to "diagnostic" exams (used to evaluate abnormalities found during screening or other exams) and "supplemental" exams (high-risk screening based on personal/family history). The law requires 100% coverage for these services without cost-sharing, affecting all health insurers and patients needing these exams. It includes a minor exception for Health Savings Account-qualified plans under federal tax rules but otherwise eliminates out-of-pocket costs for covered breast examinations. The rule takes effect for new or renewed policies starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 556 prohibits West Virginia's Department of Human Services and Department of Health Services from requiring foster parents or household members to receive certain immunizations as a condition of fostering a child. The exception applies only if the child has a medically verified immunosuppressive condition requiring special prevention measures, in which case the department may mandate up-to-date immunizations for the household. This law directly affects foster parents and caregivers seeking to provide foster care, removing a potential barrier while maintaining safety for vulnerable children. It does not change immunization requirements for children in foster care or general public health rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia hotels and public lodging establishments to implement specific measures to address human trafficking. By January 1, 2026, hotels must establish procedures for reporting suspected trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law enforcement, post bilingual (English/Spanish) awareness signs in employee-accessible areas, and may provide annual human trafficking awareness training to housekeeping and front desk staff. The training must cover definitions of trafficking (including sex and labor trafficking), how to identify victims, and reporting protocols. The bill clarifies it does not create legal liability for hotels and allows the Bureau for Public Health to develop implementing rules.

Maddy summarySB 28 requires health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover clinical genetic testing for inherited cancer-related gene mutations (for individuals with a family history of cancer, as recommended by a doctor) and evidence-based cancer imaging (for those at increased cancer risk, per medical guidelines) without any cost-sharing like copays or deductibles. This applies to all individual, group, and public employee health insurance policies issued, renewed, or adjusted in West Virginia on or after January 1, 2026. The law ensures these specific preventive services are fully covered at no additional cost to patients who meet the medical criteria. It does not alter existing coverage for other medical services.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 286 grants parents and legal guardians direct access to their minor child's health records without requiring the child's permission, except in four specific cases: the child has graduated high school, is emancipated, married, or if a criminal case for child abuse is pending against the parent. The bill removes the need for healthcare providers to obtain a minor's authorization for parents to access records, aligning with existing HIPAA guidelines. It also ensures managed care organizations, child placing agencies, and temporary custodians can access a child's medical records. This change applies to all healthcare providers and child welfare entities in West Virginia, streamlining access while maintaining clear exceptions.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 5 designates February 14, 2025, as National Organ Donor Day at the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution honors organ donors, specifically referencing the legacy of Seilah Andrea Stanley whose organs saved lives after her passing, and highlights West Virginia's 33% increase in organ donors in 2024. It also promotes awareness of organ donation by noting that over 500 West Virginians await transplants and one donor can save eight lives. This ceremonial resolution has no binding policy changes - it solely recognizes donor impact and encourages registration via donatelifewv.org or DMV offices.

Maddy summarySB 498 creates four new dedicated lottery ticket games in West Virginia, each funding specific public services: fire departments, emergency medical services, schools, and roads. Revenue from the "Fire Department" game goes to the All County Fire Protection Fund, the "EMS" game funds the Emergency Medical Services Equipment and Training Fund, the "Schools" game supports the Innovation in Education Fund, and the "Roads" game contributes to the State Road Fund. All profits from these tickets must be deposited into these existing funds per current law, and ticket designs must clearly state which service the revenue supports. The bill requires the Lottery Commission to regularly update game designs to stay competitive with other lottery games.

Maddy summarySB 497 prohibits homeowners' insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew policies solely because a policyholder filed a claim for a single, isolated incident (such as minor damage from a storm or accident). This law directly affects homeowners who might otherwise face policy cancellation after a single claim, preventing insurers from using such claims as grounds for termination. The bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly state that homeowners' policies cannot be canceled or denied renewal based on an isolated incident claim. The key provision removes the ability of insurers to terminate coverage for these single events, ensuring continued protection for affected homeowners.