Sen. Scott Fuller

Maddy summarySB 810 clarifies the requirements for licensed nurses who administer anesthesia or manage chronic pain practices. The bill updates existing rules to provide clearer standards for these specific nursing roles, directly affecting qualified nurses in those specialties. It does not create new requirements but makes current regulations more explicit and actionable. The law became effective on August 8, 2025, following gubernatorial approval on April 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 941 clarifies which state agency has authority over dams designed by the U.S. Conservation Service (likely a reference to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). It directly affects state agencies responsible for dam oversight and maintenance. The bill specifies that the state dam safety agency, not the U.S. Conservation Service, holds primary authority for these dams. This eliminates ambiguity in existing regulations without creating new requirements or changing dam management practices. The bill became law on April 28, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 537 establishes the WV Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program, providing direct support to low-income pregnant women and new mothers in West Virginia. The program, administered by the state health department, offers prenatal care, nutrition assistance, and social services to eligible individuals. It creates a new state-funded initiative to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for vulnerable populations. The bill became law after approval by the governor on April 30, 2025, and was enacted as Chapter 203 of the 2025 Regular Session Acts.

Maddy summarySB 128 prevents courts from ordering healthcare providers to be paid more than the standard Medicaid reimbursement rate for services. This directly affects courts issuing service orders and providers who accept Medicaid payments, ensuring court-ordered services align with existing Medicaid payment rules. The key provision requires all court-ordered payments to match the state’s Medicaid rate, eliminating the possibility of higher court-mandated fees. The bill became law on August 8, 2025, after the governor approved it on April 25, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 538 allows certain organizations (like nonprofits or community groups) to purchase properties with unpaid property taxes before they are sold at public auction. It directly affects property owners who owe taxes and qualifying entities that can now buy these properties through a direct process. The key change skips the public auction step for eligible properties, enabling faster sales to specified entities. The bill became law after the governor signed it on April 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 617 defines "gang" as any group of three or more people engaging in specific crimes, and creates new criminal penalties for gang membership and recruitment. It makes joining a gang or assisting in gang-related crimes a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $25,000 fine, separate from the underlying crimes. The bill also adds penalties for intimidating witnesses in gang-related cases, with up to 10 years in prison. This law directly affects individuals who join gangs or recruit others, targeting ongoing criminal activity under West Virginia's Anti-Organized Criminal Enterprise Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting or battering athletic officials or participants in West Virginia. It classifies such acts as misdemeanors with specific fines ($250-$500 for assault, $500-$1,000 for battery) and jail terms (5-6 months for assault, 10-12 months for battery). School boards can ban convicted offenders from all school sports events for at least one year, requiring written notice of the ban. Violating this ban is treated as trespassing under existing law.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 50 is a non-binding request to the federal government to study and implement waterway restoration projects in West Virginia. The resolution specifically asks federal agencies to evaluate and act on debris removal, river bed stabilization, and restoration of natural water flow patterns to address existing flooding damage and prevent future flooding. It was prompted by historic flooding in West Virginia during winter and spring 2025, which left streams and rivers filled with debris that continues to damage property and infrastructure. The resolution requests federal action to mitigate these issues and reduce future recovery costs. This resolution is addressed to President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk, in his alleged capacity as a special government employee.

Maddy summarySCR 27 is a request for the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study West Virginia's alcohol sales regulations. The bill asks the committee to examine current rules (many dating to the 1930s) that govern alcohol sales, distribution, and consumption. The study will assess whether these regulations are efficient, modern, and effective, considering input from businesses, consumers, health professionals, and law enforcement. The committee must report its findings and recommendations to the 2026 legislative session.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 26 directs the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study smoke shops in West Virginia, focusing on products they sell, health risks, and sales to minors. The resolution specifically asks the committee to examine both legal and illegal tobacco, nicotine, CBD, kratom, and cannabis products, including their compliance with federal safety guidelines. The committee will assess how illegal products enter the state and their sources, with a report due to the 2026 legislative session. This study aims to inform potential regulatory changes regarding these products without proposing new laws. The resolution does not make policy changes but requests a comprehensive examination to address safety concerns.