Sen. Robbie Morris

Maddy summarySB 526 modifies how public employee health insurance premiums are calculated under West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). It requires the finance board to develop annual financial plans with actuarial review, ensuring plans cover all costs including claims. The bill establishes specific reimbursement rates (110% of Medicare for providers), sets employer/employee cost-sharing percentages, and allows different cost levels based on ability to pay for current employees and retirees. It also permits subsidizing retired employees' coverage through employer premiums. This directly affects all West Virginia public employees, retirees, state employers, and healthcare providers participating in PEIA.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 6 (SR 6) is a symbolic resolution recognizing West Virginia school custodians for their role in maintaining safe, clean learning environments. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges custodians' contributions to school safety, health, and student well-being through the Senate's official resolution. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 20, 2026, and directs copies to the School Service Personnel Association, the WV State Superintendent, and David Hallinan. As a non-binding resolution, it affects no individuals or entities through legal requirements, serving solely as a gesture of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia dental insurance companies to publicly report how much of each premium dollar is spent on actual dental care versus administrative costs, using a standardized format similar to federal requirements. It mandates annual transparency reports showing medical loss ratios (the minimum percentage of premiums spent on care), allows consumers to compare insurers online, and requires rebates to policyholders if less than 80% of premiums fund patient care. The law also prohibits insurers from forcing dentists to accept only credit card payments with fees and ensures clear payment method options. It directly affects dental insurers, dentists, and dental insurance customers in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for local religious organizations that want to disaffiliate from a parent denomination or conference. It requires a two-thirds vote of the local membership to approve disaffiliation and classifies property into three types: real estate (Class A), movable items like furniture (Class B), and financial assets (Class C). Local groups can keep specific real estate parcels if over 50% of the costs for that parcel were raised locally, while parent denominations must provide detailed property accounting within 60 days and prove ownership claims with documentation. The law directly affects local religious groups seeking to leave a denomination and their parent organizations, focusing on how property ownership is determined during separation.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 475 establishes rules for West Virginia state agencies regulating "chemicals of emerging concern" (like PFAS, microplastics, and nanomaterials). It prevents state rules from being stricter than existing federal standards for these chemicals, and requires any new state rules (where no federal standard exists) to be based on "best available science" and "weight of scientific evidence." The bill defines key terms like "best available science" to ensure regulations rely on reliable, peer-reviewed studies showing a direct link between chemical exposure and actual health harm. This directly affects state environmental and health agencies responsible for setting limits on water quality, air pollution, and hazardous materials.

Maddy summarySB 447 amends West Virginia's Industrial Access Road Fund to clarify spending rules and raise monetary limits. It increases the annual county allocation cap for unmatched funds from $400,000 to $800,000 and sets a $300,000 cap for matched funds. The fund can only finance roads to existing or planned industrial sites (e.g., manufacturing, distribution, or West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program locations), not schools, shopping centers, or private property. Counties must provide surety bonds if sites aren't built on time, and projects require Division of Highways approval within 90 days.

Maddy summarySB 432 requires West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles to provide free identification documents (including photo IDs, driver's license replacements, or birth certificates) to homeless U.S. citizens residing in shelters or served by homeless services providers. To qualify, applicants must live at a shelter, use the shelter's address, have a shelter employee verify their homelessness via affidavit, and provide proof of U.S. citizenship (like a birth certificate or passport). The bill limits recipients to one document per 30 days and mandates the State Registrar to develop application forms. It directly affects homeless youth and unaccompanied homeless individuals who lack stable housing and cannot afford standard ID fees. The law aims to remove barriers to employment, benefits, and housing stability by ensuring access to essential identification.

Maddy summarySB 435 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia (including public employee, individual, group, and hospital service plans) to cover oral health medical procedures necessary as a side effect of cancer treatments. This includes procedures related to eating, breathing, speech, or swallowing - such as evaluations, medications, rehabilitation, and dental devices - following treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Coverage applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027. The bill also mandates annual cost reporting to the legislature one year after implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the parole rules for individuals convicted of first-degree murder who receive a life sentence with parole eligibility ("life with mercy"). It requires them to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The law directly affects those sentenced under West Virginia Code §61-2-2 for first-degree murder, specifically altering their parole timeline. This policy change eliminates early parole consideration for these offenders, mandating a 30-year minimum term before parole review.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the retirement benefit multiplier for West Virginia deputy sheriffs from 2.5% to 3% of their final average salary multiplied by years of credited service. It directly affects deputy sheriffs who retire on or after July 1, 2018, by raising their monthly pension amount under the Deputy Sheriff Retirement System. The change modifies the calculation method in the existing retirement law without altering contribution rates or eligibility rules. This adjustment results in higher retirement benefits for qualifying members based on their salary and service history. The policy change applies specifically to the state's deputy sheriff retirement system, not other public retirement plans.