Sen. Brian Helton

Maddy summarySB 614 would allow West Virginia pharmacists to sell Ivermectin for human use without a prescription once the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it for over-the-counter sale. The bill requires pharmacists to provide the FDA-approved patient information sheet at the time of sale and eliminates the need for a pharmacist consultation. It also protects pharmacists and healthcare providers from liability or disciplinary action for dispensing or recommending Ivermectin under these conditions, provided they act in good faith and follow applicable laws. This change would directly affect patients seeking Ivermectin and pharmacists operating in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests West Virginia's Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study substance use disorder across the state. The committee must examine current public health initiatives, identify gaps in prevention and treatment services, evaluate existing programs, and analyze impacts on populations like rural communities and veterans. The study will result in recommendations and draft legislation for the 2026 legislative session, with costs covered by the committee's budget. It does not enact new policy but directs a review to inform future actions.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 204 requires opioid treatment programs (specifically those providing methadone) to transition to an integrated care model by July 1, 2026. This model mandates on-site medical, counseling, and recovery services provided in person at the program location during regular hours, prohibiting telehealth or referrals. Programs failing to comply must cease operations by October 1, 2026, though a 12-month administrative transition period allows existing patients to continue care without accepting new patients. Non-compliance incurs daily civil penalties up to $2,500, and the Director may seek court-ordered enforcement. The bill directly affects methadone treatment programs, excluding those issuing prescriptions for partial opioid agonists.

Maddy summarySB 264 amends West Virginia law to allow the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally killing a law-enforcement officer or emergency responder while they are performing their official duties. The bill specifically adds this scenario as an aggravating circumstance that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, requiring direct evidence like witness testimony or DNA, not just circumstantial proof. It defines "emergency responder" to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel. This change applies only to first-degree murder cases where the victim was a qualified officer or responder on duty, and it mandates jury unanimity for death penalty sentencing while requiring consideration of mitigating factors. The bill does not change existing death penalty eligibility for other murder cases.

Maddy summarySB 717 prevents surprise billing for ground ambulance services by requiring insurers to pay nonparticipating ambulance providers directly at 400% of Medicare rates (or the provider's billed charge, whichever is lower) within 30 days of receiving a clean claim. It prohibits ambulance providers from billing patients for amounts beyond standard cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) that would apply if the provider were in-network. The bill applies to health insurance policies issued after January 1, 2026, and covers ground ambulance services (excluding air ambulances) for covered enrollees. Insurers must provide written notice for denied claims, ensuring transparency in payment decisions.

Maddy summarySB 564 (West Virginia Senate Bill 564) would prohibit voters not affiliated with a major political party (such as Democrat or Republican) from voting in that party's primary election. The bill amends election code sections to require that unaffiliated voters - registered as "independent" or with no party affiliation - receive only ballots for nonpartisan candidates and public questions during primaries, rather than party-specific ballots. This directly affects unaffiliated voters in West Virginia primary elections, limiting their choice to nonpartisan options only. The change is a procedural adjustment to voter registration and ballot access rules, not a new policy on election administration.

Maddy summarySB 566 provides tuition coverage for certified law enforcement officers in West Virginia pursuing education. It covers tuition and fees for one certificate, one undergraduate degree, one master's degree, and up to two doctorate degrees annually per officer, capped at the highest public university tuition rate. Officers must serve one year for every year of tuition covered or repay the costs. The program requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to set eligibility rules and administer payments, with reductions if officers receive other grants. It directly affects certified officers seeking education while serving in West Virginia.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific licensing requirements for individuals and firms administering polygraph examinations (psychophysiological detection of deception) in West Virginia. To obtain a license, applicants must be 21+, U.S. citizens, have no disqualifying felony convictions (with a rational nexus review), honorable military discharge, pass a competency exam, complete six months of internship training, and meet education standards set by the Commissioner of Labor (without requiring a bachelor's degree for Class I or associate degree for Class II applicants). It creates two license types: Class I (general use) and Class II (for law enforcement employees only). The bill also mandates an annual fee paid into a dedicated fund for enforcement, with the Commissioner setting detailed rules for training, testing, equipment standards, and continuing education.

Maddy summarySB 664, the First Amendment Preservation Act, prohibits West Virginia state agencies from contracting with companies that rate news sources for accuracy, bias, or misinformation. It requires advertising and marketing firms bidding for state contracts to provide written certification that they do not use such rating services. The law applies to all state advertising contracts executed, renewed, or modified on or after July 1, 2025. The bill does not restrict services that aggregate news articles or provide ad performance analytics, as long as they do not involve media monitoring organizations.

Maddy summarySB 659, the "Parents' Bill of Rights," codifies specific rights for parents of minor children in West Virginia. It directly affects parents by establishing their fundamental right to direct their child's education, health care, moral upbringing, and access to school records without government interference. Key provisions include requiring state entities to demonstrate "compelling state interest" before infringing parental rights, listing specific parental rights (e.g., choosing schools, making health decisions), and allowing parents to sue for violations. The bill creates a legal framework for parents to seek remedies like injunctions or damages if their rights are violated by schools, government, or officials.