Sen. Mark Maynard

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special revenue account within West Virginia's Department of Human Services to reduce out-of-state residential placements for children in state care. It establishes a Commission with representatives from child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice, education, and court systems to study current placement practices and develop strategies to expand in-state treatment capacity. Key provisions require the Commission to report annually with an implementation plan targeting a 50% reduction in out-of-state placements within three years, while promoting collaboration between agencies through joint funding proposals and improved access to in-state facility data. The bill directly affects children in foster care or juvenile justice systems, their families, and state agencies responsible for their care.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for local religious organizations that want to disaffiliate from a parent denomination or conference. It requires a two-thirds vote of the local membership to approve disaffiliation and classifies property into three types: real estate (Class A), movable items like furniture (Class B), and financial assets (Class C). Local groups can keep specific real estate parcels if over 50% of the costs for that parcel were raised locally, while parent denominations must provide detailed property accounting within 60 days and prove ownership claims with documentation. The law directly affects local religious groups seeking to leave a denomination and their parent organizations, focusing on how property ownership is determined during separation.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 539 (SB 539) increases compensation rates for panel attorneys and guardians ad litem appointed in West Virginia abuse and neglect cases. The bill amends existing statutes to require detailed time records (in tenths of hours) for services, mandates payment within 45 business days of voucher submission, and establishes clear dispute resolution processes for rejected or reduced payments. It directly affects legal professionals representing vulnerable clients in child welfare and protective services cases. Key provisions include standardized payment timelines, electronic voucher processing, and court-level final authority for payment disputes. The bill focuses on improving payment fairness and efficiency for court-appointed advocates in these critical cases.

Maddy summarySB 503 requires all West Virginia state office buildings and individual agency offices to display the national motto "In God We Trust" in a visible, conspicuous location. The display must be durable, at least 8.5x11 inches, and may include the U.S. flag but no other text or imagery. State funds cannot be used for this display; agencies may only accept private donations. The law, effective July 1, 2026, applies to all state buildings used for official business. It does not change the motto itself but mandates its physical display in specified locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows West Virginia pharmacists to dispense Ivermectin for human use under two conditions: through a collaborative agreement with a prescriber or, once the FDA approves it for over-the-counter sale, without a prescription. When dispensing without a prescription, pharmacists must provide an FDA-approved patient information sheet and no consultation is required. The bill also shields pharmacists and healthcare providers from civil, criminal, or disciplinary action when following these provisions in good faith. The OTC dispensing provision will take effect immediately upon FDA approval, while other parts of the bill become effective 90 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 479 requires parents or guardians found responsible for substantiated child abuse or neglect to undergo a 90-day hair follicle drug test before regaining unsupervised visitation rights or having children returned to their care. This replaces reliance on urine or blood tests, which can be easily manipulated, and mandates testing within 48 hours of a substantiated case. If a parent tests positive for drugs without a prescription, their minor children must also be tested via hair follicle analysis, with newborns screened for intrauterine drug exposure. The law aims to ensure child safety by preventing drug-related relapse and reducing the risk of re-abuse, while requiring all test results to be shared with child protective services, courts, and medical providers.

Maddy summarySB 500 amends West Virginia's sex offender registration law to prohibit individuals convicted of specified sex offenses from residing within 1,000 feet of any school, park, or playground. This applies to all sex offenders required to register under existing law (including those convicted of offenses listed in §15-12-2(b) of the West Virginia Code). The bill adds this spatial restriction to current registration requirements, requiring offenders to maintain this distance from designated locations. It does not change registration procedures but adds a new residency limitation for affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 171 creates the West Virginia Released Time Education Act, allowing students to be excused from school for religious instruction courses. School districts must adopt policies permitting excusal for up to five hours weekly (with parental written consent), requiring sponsoring religious entities to handle transportation, liability, and attendance records without using school funds. Schools must award academic credit for these courses based solely on secular criteria like class hours, syllabus content, and instructor qualifications - excluding religious content. The bill specifies that excused time counts toward school attendance for funding and attendance requirements, and it provides legal remedies for violations.

Maddy summarySB 794 authorizes the West Virginia Division of Highways to erect warning signs on specific roads with poor maintenance, indicating that only vehicles with high ground clearance (like 4x4s) may safely travel those routes. The bill amends existing highway authority by adding a provision allowing the commissioner to implement this signage to address safety concerns on undermaintained roads. This directly affects drivers using those designated roads, particularly those operating standard vehicles that may not be suitable for the road conditions. The change is procedural, focusing solely on signage authorization without altering road maintenance standards or creating new infrastructure.

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.