Sen. Amy Grady

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 911 creates a new "adjunct teaching permit" for individuals with a bachelor's degree and relevant experience, allowing them to fill vacant teaching positions, launch new classes, or supplement existing programs only when no certified teacher in that subject is available and willing to take the role. Adjunct teachers must complete specific training, be paired with a mentor, and cannot teach special education. County schools can set their own pay and benefits with the adjunct teacher, and must report adjunct hires to the state education department while posting openings publicly. This bill directly affects school districts hiring adjunct staff and the teachers seeking those positions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia Medicaid to cover home blood pressure monitoring devices for specific enrollees: pregnant individuals or those within 12 months postpartum who have been diagnosed with uncontrolled hypertension. It mandates coverage for validated devices listed by the U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Listing, including an extra blood pressure cuff, and requires reimbursement for related services like patient training, reading interpretation, and co-intervention costs. The policy directly affects Medicaid recipients with these specific health conditions during pregnancy or postpartum. It amends existing Medicaid coverage rules to ensure these devices and support services are provided as part of chronic condition management.

Maddy summarySB 155 creates a framework for West Virginia counties to expand access to nutritious meals for students during school breaks, including summers. It requires each county public school system to conduct annual surveys of students about their food access when schools are closed, map community food resources (like local charities), and share this information with all students. Counties must also provide training for organizations running meal sites and share survey results with the state’s Child Nutrition Office. The bill removes prior requirements for schools to include specific food delivery plans in crisis response plans, instead encouraging voluntary, community-driven solutions. This affects all public school students in West Virginia counties and aims to reduce food insecurity during non-school periods.

Maddy summarySB 89 creates a new category of public charter schools in West Virginia designed specifically for students identified as "high-risk" based on specific criteria. To qualify, a school must enroll at least 70% of students meeting defined high-risk categories, including those expelled, suspended repeatedly, homeless, in foster care, chronically truant, or credit-deficient. The bill requires the state board to establish funding rules for these schools through a formal rulemaking process. This policy directly affects schools seeking charter status and the vulnerable student populations they serve, focusing on providing targeted educational options for students facing significant barriers to traditional school success.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia's Medicaid program and the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) to cover doula services for eligible individuals. It defines a doula as a non-medical professional providing continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period (from confirmed conception through 365 days after delivery). The law mandates minimum visit requirements for prenatal and postpartum care, establishes specific billing protocols, and requires the Department of Human Services to submit a state plan amendment by a set deadline to implement this coverage. It directly affects low-income pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid or PEIA who would now have access to doula support as part of their maternity benefits.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 44) honoring basketball legend Jerry West, a native of West Virginia. It memorializes his life and legacy, recognizing his birth in Chelyan, West Virginia; his high school and college career at West Virginia University; his NBA playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers; and his contributions to basketball as a player, coach, and executive. The resolution also acknowledges his philanthropy, including the Jerry West Scholarship for WVU students. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal tribute expressing the Senate's respect and extending sympathy to his family.

Maddy summarySB 197 modifies West Virginia's teacher certification rules by exempting certain candidates from basic skills and subject matter tests. Specifically, it removes the testing requirement for individuals who completed standard teacher education programs (including those with less than a 3.0 GPA in such programs) and for those with alternative certification pathways. The bill maintains other requirements like bachelor's degrees, background checks, and pedagogical training. This change directly affects new teachers seeking standard teaching certificates through traditional education pathways. The bill does not alter requirements for alternative certification programs, administrative credentials, or paraprofessional roles.

Maddy summarySB 548 requires all public schools serving grades K-12 to provide annual evidence-based training on two topics: youth violence prevention (for grades 6-12) and social inclusion (for all K-12 students), each totaling at least one hour per school year. The West Virginia Department of Education must develop and maintain a publicly available list of approved, proven programs meeting specific criteria to fulfill these requirements. Schools may deliver training in-person, virtually, or digitally, and the bill allows (but does not require) schools to establish student-led violence prevention clubs. The law applies to public schools, with requirements being voluntary for public charter and nonpublic schools.

Maddy summarySB 834 creates a tax credit for property owners rehabilitating certified historic buildings in West Virginia. It offers a 10% credit on rehabilitation costs for most projects, increasing to 25% for projects starting after December 2017 with specific certification. The bill allows owners to claim credits incrementally for phased rehabilitation projects (e.g., staged construction) as each phase is completed, provided they submit final certification within 60 months. This credit applies only to buildings designated as "certified historic" by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Park Service, and requires owners to be current on all tax payments when claiming the credit.

Maddy summarySJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all voters in West Virginia elections to be U.S. citizens. The amendment would add language to the state constitution stating: "Only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States shall be entitled to vote at all elections." This would codify the existing requirement that voters must be U.S. citizens, which is already enforced under current law. The proposal must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.