Sen. Vince Deeds

Maddy summarySCR 23 is a resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC). The study will examine the commission's mission, effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, accountability, and whether a performance evaluation would be appropriate. The committee must gather input from coaches, parents, and athletes and report findings to the 2026 legislative session. The WVSSAC manages high school sports and activities, funded by ticket sales and corporate sponsors rather than taxpayer money. This resolution follows concerns about the commission's operations that prompted a similar reform bill with over 20 sponsors.

Maddy summarySB 92, the Glucagon for Schools Act, allows West Virginia schools to maintain a stock supply of undesignated glucagon (not prescribed to a specific student) for emergency use during severe hypoglycemia in students with diabetes. It requires schools to train personnel to recognize and respond to diabetes emergencies, administer glucagon if a student’s prescribed supply is unavailable or expired, and call 911 while notifying parents and healthcare providers after administration. The bill protects school personnel, districts, and administrators from liability when acting in good faith under school policies, and mandates schools to have accessible glucometers (though not strictly required). It directly affects all public, charter, and private K-12 schools in West Virginia with students who have diabetes.

Maddy summarySB 943 clarifies that apiaries (beekeeping operations) are protected agricultural activities under West Virginia law. The bill amends the Code to explicitly state that beekeeping and honeybee colonies are agricultural operations regulated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, directly affecting beekeepers and agricultural regulations. Key provisions include legislative findings that pollinator decline threatens agriculture, that beekeeping supports the economy and food security, and that apiaries are critical to agricultural operations relying on pollinators. This legal clarification ensures apiaries are treated as agricultural operations for regulatory purposes, not subject to conflicting classifications. The bill does not create new regulations but formally recognizes existing beekeeping practices within agricultural protections.

Maddy summarySB 632 prevents surprise billing for out-of-network ambulance services by requiring insurers to pay non-participating ambulance providers directly at a capped rate (400% of Medicare's published rate for similar services in the area, or the provider's billed charge, whichever is lower). It prohibits ambulance agencies from charging patients for any costs beyond their standard copay, coinsurance, or deductible amounts. The bill applies to ground ambulance services (excluding air ambulances) covered under health insurance policies issued after January 1, 2026, and mandates insurers pay claims within 30 days or provide written denial notices explaining the reason. This directly affects patients who use out-of-network ambulances and ambulance providers who previously faced billing disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new market pay enhancement for certified teachers in West Virginia to address regional cost-of-living disparities. It calculates an additional payment based on comparing the median home price in a teacher's county (or surrounding region including bordering states) to the statewide median home price, using data from the National Association of Realtors. The state board of education will determine the higher of two multipliers (regional or county-based) to apply to the average teacher base salary, with the enhancement capped at 50% of that base salary. The adjustment will occur annually starting December 1, 2026, aiming to make teacher compensation more competitive with neighboring states.

Maddy summarySB 105 updates retirement eligibility for county sheriffs in West Virginia who are enrolled in the public retirement system. It clarifies that sheriffs may retire at age 62 with at least eight years of actual, contributing service as an elected sheriff, instead of the standard requirement of age 60 with five years of service for other public employees. The bill specifically applies to sheriffs not participating in another retirement system administered by the retirement board. This change modifies Section 5-10-20 of West Virginia’s retirement law to explicitly address sheriffs’ eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 805 makes housing association (HOA) rules prohibiting home gardens or owning up to four chickens unenforceable in West Virginia. It directly affects homeowners in HOA-managed communities by voiding restrictions on personal gardening (including container plants) and chicken ownership, as long as the chickens are hens or pullets (not roosters). The bill defines "personal agriculture" as non-commercial home growing of edibles and allows HOAs to maintain reasonable rules about coop size, location, and waste removal, while preserving local health/safety regulations and historical preservation requirements. It does not apply to common areas or prohibit HOAs from banning synthetic chemicals or requiring garden maintenance.

Maddy summarySB 595, the Mountain Bike Responsibility Act, establishes rules for commercial mountain bike trail operators and riders in West Virginia. It requires operators to post trail maps, mark difficulty levels with standardized symbols, maintain emergency plans, and display a specific risk-assumption warning stating that riders accept inherent trail hazards. The law explicitly limits operator liability for injuries or damage caused by natural terrain features like roots, rocks, uneven surfaces, or other trail conditions. It directly affects commercial trail operators (not public or non-profit entities) and mountain bicyclists using designated trails. The bill aims to clarify responsibilities while defining the risks riders assume when using mountain bike trails.

Maddy summarySB 249 expands work requirements for SNAP (food stamp) recipients in West Virginia, requiring able-bodied adults aged 18-59 without dependents to join employment or training programs unless exempt. It adds specific exemptions (e.g., parents caring for young children, part-time students, individuals in treatment programs, or those working 30+ hours weekly) and limits additional state exemptions to 20% of participants. The bill mandates the Department of Human Services to report monthly to the legislature on funding gaps affecting program availability and submit annual reports on voluntary program participation. These changes aim to clarify participation rules, improve accountability, and ensure reporting on SNAP work program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 100) allows West Virginia State Police members in the retirement system to convert accrued sick or annual leave into additional retirement credit. Current members who joined before July 1, 2015, get two months of retirement credit for every month of leave used (based on 8-hour leave days), while newer members (joining July 1, 2015, or later) get one month of credit per month of leave used. The bill clarifies that leave days equal eight hours and specifies how unused partial credits (less than 10 workdays) are handled. It directly affects State Police retirees by potentially increasing their retirement benefits through unused leave.