Sen. Kevan Bartlett

Maddy summarySB 805 adds "abortion pill reversal" to West Virginia's Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program, allowing funding for this service through eligible pregnancy help organizations. The bill defines "abortion pill reversal" as using progesterone to counteract the abortion pill (mifepristone) and specifies that only organizations that do not support or perform abortions can receive program funds for this purpose. Abortion industry organizations are explicitly excluded from receiving these funds. This is a procedural change to the existing program's funding eligibility, not a new law restricting abortion access.

Maddy summarySB 420, the West Virginia First Energy Act, requires regulated utilities to maintain minimum operational standards for coal and natural-gas power plants. It mandates a 69% annual utilization rate for coal-fired facilities, a 30-day on-site coal inventory, and firm natural-gas supply contracts for gas plants. The bill prohibits retiring or reducing coal/gas capacity without Public Service Commission approval (unless an in-state replacement is available) and bans cost recovery for new wind or solar projects in utility rate bases. These provisions directly affect utilities operating in-state coal and natural-gas generation, aiming to preserve reliable, dispatchable power sources and limit reliance on intermittent renewables.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new felony offense for indecent exposure committed in front of minors and requires individuals convicted of this crime to register as sex offenders. The legislation defines indecent exposure as exposing one's nude penis, vagina, or anus and includes undressing in opposite-sex locker rooms as a violation while removing exemptions for breastfeeding. Penalties increase with repeat offenses, and the new crime counts as a qualifying offense for recidivist sentencing enhancements. The bill also clarifies that registration requirements apply retroactively to past convictions involving these offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires vape and smoke shops in West Virginia to obtain a state license before operating. It directly affects businesses that sell vaping products, tobacco, and related accessories, defining "vape or smoke shop" as establishments devoting at least 33% of floor space to these products. Key provisions include banning shops from operating as residences, prohibiting the sale of certain vapor products, and imposing fines up to $10,000 or jail time for unlicensed operation. The law establishes licensing fees, enforcement by the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner, and reporting requirements for compliance.

Maddy summarySB 929, the "Taxpayer Transparency in Education Act," requires West Virginia county school boards to publish detailed annual financial statements within 120 days of each fiscal year. These statements must disclose all expenditures over $250 to individuals or firms, debts, school personnel pay, and budget estimates, either as legal ads or on public websites. County boards failing to submit these reports within 90 days face a State Auditor noncompliance notice, and after 60 days of noncompliance, they lose access to discretionary state education funds. The bill directly affects all 55 county school boards by mandating greater financial transparency for taxpayers.

Maddy summarySB 1012 amends West Virginia law to permit the development of 60 additional inpatient substance use disorder treatment beds specifically for youth aged 17 or younger in Cabell County. The bill modifies certificate of need requirements that previously restricted new beds in counties with over 250 existing substance abuse treatment beds, making an exception for Cabell County's juvenile beds. This policy change directly affects minors in Cabell County seeking inpatient treatment for substance use disorders by removing a regulatory barrier to expanding specialized care. The provision is limited to inpatient treatment beds exclusively for individuals 17 years or younger.

Maddy summarySB 540 requires Child Protective Services (CPS) workers in West Virginia to wear body-worn cameras during investigations of child abuse or neglect, but only after obtaining consent from the person being investigated in private settings where privacy is expected. CPS workers may skip using the camera if it would compromise a child's privacy or hinder the investigation, but they must document the reason in the case file. All audio and video recordings must be kept confidential, stored until all appeals are resolved, and treated as part of the official child welfare record, not subject to public disclosure. This bill directly affects CPS workers and individuals involved in child welfare investigations.

Maddy summarySB 981 imposes a one-year pause (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) on the Public Service Commission approving new rate increases for electric, natural gas, and water utilities serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in West Virginia. It allows the Commission to reduce rates, disallow costs, or approve refunds during this period but prohibits new rate hikes. The bill requires a comprehensive study of methods to lower utility rates and mandates a report on findings and recommendations. This directly affects utilities and their customers by temporarily halting rate increases while evaluating long-term affordability solutions.

Maddy summarySB 1029 requires West Virginia child protective services (CPS) workers to provide parents with plain-language statements of their rights at the start of an investigation. The bill mandates two specific documents: a "Plain-Language Statement of Immediate Rights" (covering rights like home privacy, refusing entry, and services) and a "Plain-Language Statement of Ongoing Rights" (covering confidentiality, file access, and appeal processes), both written in clear, 8th-grade level English. These documents must be provided on the first contact during a CPS investigation and documented in the case record. The bill directly affects parents involved in CPS cases by ensuring they receive accessible information about their legal rights throughout the process. It does not change CPS procedures but standardizes how rights are communicated to parents.

Maddy summarySB 1037 would allow the death penalty for first-degree murder committed during a sexual abuse conviction (in the first degree) when the victim is under 12 years old and the defendant is over 18. The bill requires prosecutors to notify the court and defendant within 45 days of arraignment if seeking the death penalty, including the specific reasons they will argue for it. It also establishes procedures for jury selection, sentencing, and automatic review of death penalty cases by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. The bill repeals West Virginia’s existing ban on the death penalty to permit this specific application.