Sen. Mike Oliverio

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in West Virginia to cover medically necessary dental procedures directly related to cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. It specifically covers services like exams, medications, dental devices, and rehabilitation needed to restore functions like eating, speaking, or swallowing after cancer care. Insurers must use a unique billing code ("West Virginia Code §33-64-1") for these services, with prescriptions for covered medications using a designated identifier. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to most health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.

Maddy summarySJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring West Virginia's Legislature to review county boundaries every 100 years starting in 2031. The bill directs lawmakers to assess county populations, demographics, and transportation access, and to redraw or combine counties if they determine it would benefit residents. Any proposed boundary changes would then be submitted to voters in the next general election for approval. This amendment directly affects all West Virginia counties and their residents by establishing a regular, constitutionally mandated process for potential county boundary adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding flexibility for West Virginia's Water Development Authority by raising the annual transfer limit to its Critical Needs and Failing Systems Sub Account from $12 million to $14 million. It allows projects to qualify for funding if they address immediate water/wastewater service failures (up to $3 million total cost), extend service to new customers (up to $3 million), or upgrade existing facilities to reduce maintenance, operational costs, or leaks (up to $300,000 total cost). The changes directly affect communities with aging or failing water infrastructure, enabling them to secure grants for repairs and efficiency upgrades. The bill modifies specific cost caps and removes certain grant restrictions that previously applied to this fund.

Maddy summarySB 55 requires West Virginia's Commissioner of Highways to develop a transparent formula for distributing state and federal road funds among the state's ten road districts by 2026. The formula must consider specific, measurable factors including each county's population, population growth, total lane miles, vehicle traffic volume, heavy truck traffic, and bridge conditions. Before finalizing the formula, the Commissioner must gather public input through a six-week comment period and make all feedback publicly accessible. The proposed formula must then be submitted to the Legislature for approval as a legislative rule, ensuring counties receive funds based on objective data rather than current practices.

Maddy summarySB 36 regulates professionals who charge for helping veterans apply for benefits by requiring clear disclosures about free VA services and prohibiting guarantees of specific benefits or excessive fees. It bans charging before a formal claim disagreement is filed, mandates written agreements meeting federal fee standards (38 C.F.R. §14.636), and requires both oral and written disclosures stating the service is not affiliated with VA. Violations would be treated as consumer protection law breaches under West Virginia’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act. The bill directly affects veterans’ service providers, not veterans themselves.

Maddy summarySB 34 establishes a community solar pilot program in West Virginia, allowing multiple subscribers (retail electricity customers) to share a solar facility and receive bill credits for the electricity generated, directly reducing their utility costs. Facilities must meet specific criteria, including having at least three subscribers, being limited to 5 megawatts (or 10 megawatts on qualifying sites like brownfields), setting aside 40% of capacity for small subscribers (25 kW or less), and operating within a utility's service territory. The program includes a "net crediting" mechanism for low-income customers (earning ≤80% of area median income), directing a portion of bill credits to low-income service organizations, and requires the Public Service Commission to create implementing rules by January 1, 2026. The pilot is separate from existing net metering and excludes rural cooperatives and small municipal utilities.

Maddy summarySB 63 creates a Securities Restitution Operating Fund to provide financial assistance to victims of securities fraud in West Virginia. The fund is financed by transferring 3% of securities fees collected by the state auditor, and victims may apply for restitution through the auditor's office. The bill establishes clear procedures for submitting applications, processing payments, and prohibits using restitution funds for personal benefit. It also authorizes administrative assessments of up to $50,000 against violators (e.g., brokers or investment advisers) who willfully broke securities laws, with those funds flowing into the restitution fund for victims.

Maddy summarySB 32, the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act, requires businesses meeting specific West Virginia connections (principal place of business in WV or 20% of relevant sales in WV) to electronically file pre-merger notifications with the state Attorney General. It mandates confidentiality for all submitted materials (including Hart-Scott-Rodino forms and supporting documents), with limited exceptions for legal proceedings or sharing with other states that have equivalent confidentiality laws. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for noncompliance and ensures no fees are charged for filings. This applies only to mergers filed on or after the law’s effective date, focusing on notification requirements rather than merger approval or blocking.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 33 establishes a program requiring West Virginia state agencies to reserve at least 25% of their annual contracts for small businesses meeting specific criteria. It defines a "small business" as having 250 or fewer employees or average annual revenue under $10 million, and mandates that all contracts under $150,000 must go to small businesses if they bid competitively, while larger contracts ($150,000-$700,000) require at least two small business bids. The bill also requires small businesses awarded contracts to perform 30% of work themselves and 50% through eligible small businesses, with restrictions on subcontracting with affiliated entities. Construction contracts and state agencies with minimal annual contracting ($100,000 or less) are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes West Virginia's "Uniform Special Deposits Act" to create standardized rules for special deposits - funds held by banks for specific purposes like escrow, security deposits, or retirement benefits - until a defined event (a "contingency") occurs. It defines key terms such as "beneficiary" (the person entitled to funds upon the contingency) and requires banks to pay beneficiaries when a contingency happens and the bank has knowledge of it. The act allows parties to choose West Virginia as the legal forum for disputes over these deposits, even if the deposit isn't connected to the state. It applies only to special deposits under a formal account agreement, not to regular bank accounts.