Maddy summarySB 121 creates a new felony offense for indecent exposure involving minors in West Virginia, specifically requiring exposure of genitals (penis, vagina, or anus) to children under 14. It mandates sex offender registration for convictions, increases penalties for repeat offenses (including fines and imprisonment), and removes the breastfeeding exemption due to clearer definitions. The bill amends West Virginia Code sections §61-8-9 and §61-11-18 to define the offense, establish registration requirements under the Sex Offender Registration Act (§15-12-2), and classify it as a qualifying offense for enhanced sentencing. This directly affects individuals convicted of exposing genitals to minors, with stricter consequences for multiple violations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 727 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DHS) to hire an independent third party to conduct a comprehensive study of the state's child welfare system. The study must examine specific areas like court performance, foster care placement processes, family reunification efforts, and potential efficiency improvements, with findings due to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary by September 1, 2026. DHS will cover all costs of the study and must provide the third party with necessary information under confidentiality agreements. This bill mandates a neutral, evidence-based review to identify systemic issues and recommend improvements, without altering existing laws.
Maddy summarySB 284 updates training requirements for West Virginia county board of education members, requiring initial orientation within 30 days of swearing in (with make-up sessions for absences), increasing annual training hours, and modifying covered topics like fiscal management. It sets a standard compensation rate of $260 per meeting attended (allowing counties to set lower rates) and requires the State Superintendent to annually report training data to the Legislative Oversight Commission. The bill also removes the January 1 deadline for final-year training and adds non-voting ex officio members to the training oversight committee. These changes directly affect all county board members and aim to standardize training and compensation practices.
Maddy summarySB 703 would allow West Virginia's Supreme Court of Appeals to establish uniform pay scales for magistrate court clerks, assistants, and deputy clerks instead of relying on fixed statutory salaries. Currently, these positions have set annual salaries ($54,596 for clerks, $49,232 for assistants as of 2023), but the bill would transfer authority to the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court to create standardized pay structures. The change would let these judicial support staff receive general state employee salary increases (e.g., percentage-based raises) after July 1, 2023, rather than requiring separate legislative action. This bill directly affects all magistrate court support staff across West Virginia’s counties. It focuses on streamlining compensation processes without altering their duties or current job classifications.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 19 designates March 4, 2025, as Marshall University Day at the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution recognizes Marshall University's contributions to education, economic growth, health care, and athletics in West Virginia, highlighting its role as a major employer, research institution, and community partner. It does not create new policies or affect funding - it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of the university's achievements. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate on March 4, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 669 requires health insurance companies in West Virginia to cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility preservation services. It directly affects all residents seeking infertility care, including cancer patients needing fertility preservation before treatment, military veterans with fertility-impacting injuries, and individuals with conditions like endometriosis or genetic disorders. The bill mandates coverage for medically necessary services (evaluations, medications, donor materials) without deductibles, copayments, or waiting periods, and prohibits health insurers from imposing cost-sharing for these covered services. It also defines "infertility" as a treatable condition affecting one in six couples and specifies that only standard fertility preservation procedures (like egg/sperm freezing) must be covered.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 691 allows individuals with certain criminal histories to petition courts to restrict public access to their records. It applies to those who received a full, unconditional pardon (with no recent convictions or pending charges) or had a charge dismissed/reduced to a local violation. To gain restriction, petitioners must prove the harm of public access outweighs the public interest, and courts must verify the pardon before a hearing. Records remain accessible for sentencing, law enforcement, legal proceedings, and bar admissions, but cannot be restricted for violent crimes, drug offenses involving violence, or crimes against minors.
Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 675 requires hospitals and clinics participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program (called "340B covered entities") to annually report detailed financial data to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy by April 1. This includes costs for drugs purchased under the program, payments received from insurers, payments to contracted pharmacies, and how savings are used for charity care or community health services. The data must be reported by payer type (commercial, Medicaid, Medicare), remains confidential, and the Board must then compile and publish an annual summary by November 15 for state lawmakers and the public. The bill aims to increase transparency about how 340B program savings benefit underserved patients.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 672 requires K-12 public school students in West Virginia to store personal cell phones in a secure container (like a lockbox) during instructional time. This applies to all students in public schools (excluding certain charter schools) and directly affects their daily classroom experience. Exceptions include medical needs (e.g., diabetes management), teacher-approved educational use, emergency service roles, IEP requirements, English language learning support, or family communication during class. The bill mandates school boards to adopt clear policies for implementation and parent/student notification.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 622 changes how salaries are set for specific lower court staff in West Virginia. It replaces fixed annual salary amounts for magistrate court clerks, magistrate assistants, magistrate court deputy clerks, family court secretary-clerks, and family case coordinators with a pay scale determined by the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals. This means future salary adjustments for these positions will follow the same process as other state employees' raises, rather than using the previously set statutory figures. The bill directly affects these court staff members across all West Virginia counties.