Sen. Laura Chapman

Maddy summarySB 161 requires West Virginia's Department of Health to test public water systems for unsafe contaminant levels (including PFAS, microorganisms, and chemicals) and provide free water filtration equipment to residents in affected areas. It directly affects households relying on public water sources deemed unsafe due to contaminants. Key provisions mandate the department to establish safety thresholds, evaluate water quality, and distribute filtration technology without cost to residents. The bill also allows the department to propose implementing rules for legislative approval. This policy change creates a state-funded program to address water safety concerns for affected communities.

Maddy summarySB 182 establishes a program to certify emergency medical services (EMS) personnel as paramedics and provides a funding mechanism for this program. It directly affects EMS personnel seeking certification and EMS agencies by setting new standards for training, testing, continuing education, and scope of practice. Key provisions include authorizing the Commissioner of Emergency Medical Services to apply for and use state and federal grants to fund the certification program, rather than creating new state appropriations. This enables the state to leverage existing grant opportunities to support consistent certification standards across West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 164 (West Virginia, 2025) clarifies that parents and legal guardians of unemancipated minors can access their child's medical records without needing a court order, unless a court specifically prohibits it. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, and medical providers by prohibiting providers from requiring minors to sign consent forms to allow parental access. Key provisions include requiring medical providers to give paper copies within three days at no cost upon request, and banning electronic access barriers like minor-signed consents. This bill updates existing law to prevent medical providers from creating unnecessary hurdles for parents seeking their minor child's health information.

Maddy summarySB 209 creates the West Virginia Guardian Program, allowing county school boards to contract with retired law enforcement officers (veterans, state troopers, or deputy sheriffs) to provide security on public school grounds. These "West Virginia Guardians" must meet strict requirements, including proof of U.S. citizenship, high school/GED education, concealed carry training, background checks, and passing a fitness and drug screening. The program explicitly states Guardians cannot make arrests (they are not law enforcement) and excludes individuals with dishonorable discharges, certain criminal convictions (like domestic violence or drug offenses), or recent illegal drug use. The bill aims to enhance school safety by authorizing trained retired officers to address threats like violence, bullying, or weapons on campus.

Maddy summarySB 177, the Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act, allows pharmacists in West Virginia to prescribe certain low-risk medications directly to patients. It directly affects pharmacists (expanding their scope of practice) and patients (providing easier access to specific treatments). The bill permits prescribing for minor, self-limiting conditions, conditions requiring only waived lab tests, or patient emergencies, as long as the medication is FDA-approved for that use and doesn’t require a new diagnosis or involve controlled substances. This change aims to let pharmacists use their full training for routine care without needing a separate physician prescription.

Maddy summarySB 179 would allow West Virginia school administrators to prevent students from advancing to the next grade level or graduating if they have 20 or more unexcused absences during the school year. The bill requires administrators to meet with attendance officers and teachers before report cards are issued to decide on retention for affected students. Crucially, this decision cannot be overridden by parents requesting promotion to the next grade. The law directly affects students with chronic absenteeism, school administrators (who gain this authority), and parents, aiming to address unexcused absences through school-level intervention.

Maddy summarySB 168 prohibits local governments in West Virginia from enacting or maintaining any form of rent control. The bill amends state law to ban counties, cities, and towns from adopting ordinances or resolutions that set below-market rents, limit rent increases, or base rental rates on tenant income. It defines rent control broadly to include any restriction on how much landlords can charge for residential properties. This law would require local governments to remove existing rent control policies and prevent new ones from being implemented.

Maddy summarySB 176, the Food Allergen Awareness Act, requires West Virginia restaurants and food service establishments to display posters in employee areas about food allergens. The posters must state that allergic reactions can be life-threatening, list major allergens (milk, wheat, eggs, soy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, fish), explain ingredient checks, communication with customers, and cross-contact prevention. The West Virginia Department of Health will create and update these posters, making them available online, with compliance required starting January 1, 2026. The bill does not create new legal liability for businesses or alter existing duties.

Maddy summarySB 184 prohibits law enforcement from seizing and forfeiting property from individuals solely accused of a crime before they are convicted. The bill requires that forfeiture proceedings be civil, mandates that property cannot be forfeited until after a conviction is obtained, and sets a 90-day deadline for filing forfeiture petitions after seizure. It also requires proper notice to property owners and specifies that the state must prove forfeiture by a preponderance of evidence at a hearing. This directly affects individuals accused of crimes but not yet convicted, ensuring their property rights are protected until a court finds them guilty.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how vacancies in West Virginia magistrate positions must be filled. It specifies that if a magistrate vacancy leaves more than three years remaining in the term, the position must be filled through an election; if less than three years remain, it must be filled by appointment. The bill corrects an inconsistency in existing law (previously using "two years" instead of "three years" for the election threshold) to align with a 2022 legislative amendment. This directly affects local magistrate offices and the process for filling those vacancies.