Maddy summarySB 662 creates a pilot program to provide free colorectal cancer screening and treatment in West Virginia for "unserved populations" - individuals with inadequate access to care due to financial constraints. The program, administered by the Bureau for Public Health, awards grants to approved organizations (like clinics or hospitals) to deliver screenings, diagnostic colonoscopies, and treatment at no cost to patients. Covered services include pre-visit consultations, colonoscopy procedures, polyp removal, and pathology, with treatment initiated if cancer is detected. Organizations must meet quality standards, and the program requires annual reporting on metrics like screenings performed, costs, and outcomes to the Legislative Oversight Commission.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 971 establishes minimum fire safety standards for fully enclosed agritourism businesses in West Virginia, such as barns hosting events. It requires specific provisions including multiple exits based on occupant load, fire extinguishers at exits, carbon monoxide detectors for fuel-burning equipment, emergency lighting for windowless buildings, and written evacuation plans. Open-air facilities like gazebos, pavilions, and greenhouses are exempt from these requirements. The bill applies to new and existing enclosed agritourism structures seeking fire code exemptions, ensuring safety without altering agricultural property classifications.
Maddy summarySR 42 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late Walter Dolph Helmick, a former West Virginia state legislator and public servant. It memorializes his life and career, noting his service as a coal miner, teacher, businessman, Mason, West Virginia House of Delegates member, Senate member (1989-2013), and Commissioner of Agriculture. The resolution formally recognizes his contributions to West Virginia and extends condolences to his family following his death in 2025. As a non-binding memorial resolution, it has no policy impact or effect on legislation.
Maddy summarySB 943 repeals a specific law (§49-5-106) that required state agencies - including the Supreme Court, Juvenile Services, Human Services, and Education departments - to collect and compile juvenile justice data for the Juvenile Reform Oversight Committee. This requirement had already expired on December 31, 2020, due to a built-in sunset provision, meaning it was no longer active. The bill formally removes the outdated provision from West Virginia’s legal code to maintain an accurate and streamlined set of laws. It does not change current data practices or create new obligations, as the mandate was already inactive. This is a routine legislative cleanup of expired provisions.
Maddy summarySB 437 replaces West Virginia's current school funding formula with a new system that allocates state aid to county school districts based on student needs and local resources. It directly affects all county boards of education by adding weighted factors for low-income students (+0.30), special education (+0.80), and rural schools meeting specific criteria (e.g., population density under 50/sq mi or bus routes over 15 miles). The formula calculates aid as (base per-pupil amount × weighted enrollment) minus local revenue capacity, plus rural adjustments of $250-$600 per pupil. This aims to reduce funding gaps for high-need and rural districts while requiring annual transparency reports and capping annual aid changes at 3% during implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for West Virginia manufacturers that transform locally harvested wood into finished "value-added" products like plywood, wood pellets, or engineered lumber. It provides tiered credits ($1.25-$3 per ton) based on the volume of West Virginia-sourced wood processed, with higher rates for new facilities or expansions ($2.50-$6 per ton) for five years. To qualify, manufacturers must meet a "minimum transformation standard" (e.g., altering wood’s structure), avoid basic handling like debarking, and self-report production data. Credits are capped at $1.25 million annually per facility and apply to corporate or personal income tax. The law aims to incentivize local processing of forest resources while preventing credits for raw log handling.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases compensation rates for panel attorneys who provide court-appointed legal services to eligible clients in West Virginia. It directly affects public defense attorneys by requiring updated payment rates and mandating detailed time-tracking records (in tenths of hours) for case work. Key provisions include setting 45-day payment timelines after voucher submission, establishing clear appeal processes for rejected or reduced payments, and requiring Public Defender Services to annually report legal services data to oversight bodies like the Legislative Oversight Commission and Supreme Court. The bill also adds new requirements for electronic voucher processing and court review of payment disputes.
Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 917 imposes a 15% privilege tax on the retail sale of electric vehicle charging services at public charging stations. It directly affects charging station operators, who must collect the tax from customers and remit it monthly to the state. The tax applies to gross receipts from public charging services (e.g., per session or per kWh), excluding private or free charging. Revenue generated will fund the State Road Fund, aligning with the principle that road users should contribute to infrastructure maintenance.
Maddy summarySB 915 clarifies that juveniles, including those transferred to adult court, cannot be detained in facilities where they might have contact with or be near adult inmates (convicted or awaiting trial) or with adult facility staff. The bill removes ambiguous language from existing law and gives the Corrections Commissioner discretion to oversee staff procedures in jails or lockups where juveniles are placed near adults. It also requires the Division of Juvenile Services to notify courts when a juvenile turns 18, triggering a hearing to transfer them to an adult facility or other appropriate setting before their 18th birthday. This change aims to prevent confusion in juvenile placement decisions and ensure consistent handling within West Virginia's correctional system.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes time limits for workers to file or modify claims related to progressive massive fibrosis, a lung disease often linked to occupational exposure (like mining). It directly affects workers who develop this condition, allowing them to pursue or adjust compensation claims without being barred by past deadlines. The bill amends West Virginia's workers' compensation code to eliminate statute of limitations barriers specifically for these claims and adds a new impairment rating for progressive massive fibrosis. This change ensures affected workers can access benefits regardless of when symptoms first appeared or worsened.