Sen. Craig Blair

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the West Virginia Legislature to allocate an additional $10 million from the state's general revenue to the Governor's Office for the Posey Perry Emergency Food Bank Fund. The funds are intended to support the emergency food bank's operations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Additionally, the legislation ensures that any money left over from this specific fund at the end of the fiscal year will be carried over to be used in fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides additional funding to the West Virginia Department of Administration to support a recent reorganization of its technology units. It specifically allocates money to the Division of Information Services and Communications and the Office of Technology for the 2025 fiscal year. The legislation adjusts existing budget categories to reflect these structural changes, ensuring that the consolidated funds are properly accounted for in the state's financial records.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs $2.88 million in unspent lottery funds from the Division of Culture and History to expire rather than be transferred to the Department of Arts, Culture, and History. The legislation specifically targets the fiscal year 2023 balance intended for the Cultural Facilities and Capital Resource Match Grant Program. By allowing these funds to lapse, the state prevents the money from being used for its originally designated purpose. This action applies only to the specific account balance and does not alter the broader structure of the lottery funding system.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the West Virginia State Treasurer to release additional funds from the general revenue account to the State Board of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The legislation specifically increases the budget allocations for two programs: funding for increased student enrollment and the Hope Scholarship Program. By approving these specific line items, the bill ensures that the Department of Education has the necessary resources to support these initiatives during the current fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the West Virginia Legislature to allocate additional funds from the state's general revenue surplus to the Higher Education Policy Commission for the 2024 fiscal year. The legislation specifically increases funding for three areas: the Higher Education Grant Program, support for colleges and universities, and the College Access Grant. It also includes a provision to carry over any unused money from these accounts into the 2025 fiscal year for future spending.

Maddy summaryThis West Virginia bill authorizes the transfer of unspent money from the 2024 fiscal year into specific 2025 budgets for the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services. It allows these agencies to use leftover funds for ongoing operations such as employee salaries, current expenses, and capital maintenance without needing new legislative approval. The legislation also permits the Department of Health Secretary to move up to five percent of funds between different budget categories within the same department to ensure efficient spending. By reappropriating these balances, the bill ensures that previously allocated resources continue to support essential services like medical programs, drug control, and maternal health clinics.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution urges the U.S. Department of Education to speed up the processing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ensure that financial aid is promptly issued to students and colleges in West Virginia and nationwide. The bill calls for the federal government to fully repair the FAFSA website, clear application backlogs for both online and paper submissions, and provide round-the-clock customer support to assist applicants with errors. It also requests that the Department of Education award financial aid to returning students at last year's levels if processing delays prevent new applications from being finalized. The measure aims to address significant drops in FAFSA completion rates and protect access to federal funding for higher education.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a state of emergency in West Virginia from June 29, 2024, to October 15, 2024, to address ongoing issues with the federal FAFSA application process. The measure maintains the suspension of certain state rules that previously required students to complete the FAFSA to qualify for state-funded financial aid programs. By keeping these regulations paused, the legislation allows students to access state financial assistance without being blocked by the delayed federal application rollout. The change directly affects West Virginia residents seeking college funding and ensures that emergency powers remain active until the specified date.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the state of West Virginia and its contracted managed care organizations from paying for services at residential substance use disorder treatment facilities starting January 1, 2026, unless those facilities meet specific standards. To receive payment, facilities must be licensed by the state and accredited by a recognized organization such as CARF, the Joint Commission, or DNV. The law gives facilities one year to obtain these credentials after opening or changing ownership, while requiring the state to file necessary paperwork with federal agencies by October 2025. Additionally, the bill mandates that an inspector general create rules to enforce these standards and requires a report on the policy's effectiveness by the end of 2030, after which the law will expire unless renewed.