Sen. Rollan Roberts

Maddy summarySB 85 prohibits the mailing, distribution, prescribing, or dispensing of abortifacients (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It specifically bans sending abortifacients via mail to residents, placing them in commerce for use in the state, prescribing them (even by out-of-state providers), or distributing without a valid prescription. Violations by non-medical professionals carry felony charges with 3-10 year prison sentences, while medical license revocation is possible for licensed providers. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies that threaten a patient's life or major bodily function, as defined in the bill. This directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and anyone involved in distributing abortion-related medications in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 92, the Glucagon for Schools Act, allows West Virginia schools to maintain a stock supply of undesignated glucagon (not prescribed to a specific student) for emergency use during severe hypoglycemia in students with diabetes. It requires schools to train personnel to recognize and respond to diabetes emergencies, administer glucagon if a student’s prescribed supply is unavailable or expired, and call 911 while notifying parents and healthcare providers after administration. The bill protects school personnel, districts, and administrators from liability when acting in good faith under school policies, and mandates schools to have accessible glucometers (though not strictly required). It directly affects all public, charter, and private K-12 schools in West Virginia with students who have diabetes.

Maddy summarySJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to at least $25,000 for qualifying homeowners. The amendment would affect homeowners aged 65 or older, or those who are permanently and totally disabled, who own and occupy their homes as primary residences. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would change the constitutional language governing homestead exemptions while allowing the Legislature to make further modifications to the exemption through regular legislation after January 1, 2027. The amendment is currently pending voter approval as a proposed constitutional change.

Maddy summarySB 820 creates the Whistleblower Protection Fund to support reporting of unethical practices in specific healthcare facilities, including clinical inpatient medical treatment centers, office-based medication-assisted treatment programs, and opioid treatment programs. The fund, administered by the Office of the Inspector General, will finance public awareness campaigns - such as advertisements, social media outreach, and informational materials - to encourage whistleblowers to report misconduct without fear of retaliation. Funding sources include legislative appropriations, donations, and public health grants. The Inspector General must submit annual reports to the Health Committee detailing campaign activities, the number of reports received, and their outcomes. This bill focuses on creating a reporting mechanism, not altering existing legal penalties.

Maddy summarySB 249 expands work requirements for SNAP (food stamp) recipients in West Virginia, requiring able-bodied adults aged 18-59 without dependents to join employment or training programs unless exempt. It adds specific exemptions (e.g., parents caring for young children, part-time students, individuals in treatment programs, or those working 30+ hours weekly) and limits additional state exemptions to 20% of participants. The bill mandates the Department of Human Services to report monthly to the legislature on funding gaps affecting program availability and submit annual reports on voluntary program participation. These changes aim to clarify participation rules, improve accountability, and ensure reporting on SNAP work program effectiveness.

Maddy summarySB 915 requires West Virginia public schools and public charter schools to maintain a counselor-to-student ratio of at least one professional counselor for every 250 students. This means schools must ensure sufficient counseling staff to meet this ratio, with counselors spending at least 80% of their time directly supporting students on academic, social, emotional, and career needs. The bill also prohibits counselors from performing non-counseling tasks (like administrative work or classroom coverage) without written agreement and mandates biennial training on topics such as career planning and student well-being.

Maddy summarySB 891 creates a free State Central Legal Advertising website managed by the West Virginia State Auditor, which will replace traditional newspaper publication requirements for certain legal advertisements. Entities required to publish legal notices (like courts, government agencies, and legal professionals) can now post Class II and Class III ads online for just one week instead of the current multi-week newspaper requirements. The website will provide electronic affidavits to confirm publication, which courts must accept as valid proof of service. This change applies to all legal ads published on the site, with traditional newspaper rules remaining in effect if the website isn't used.

Maddy summarySB 929, the "Restoring Private Schools Act of 2025," amends West Virginia law to establish requirements for private, parochial, and church schools. It mandates these schools to maintain attendance and immunization records, comply with fire and health safety inspections, create crisis response plans, and administer annual standardized tests to students in the same grades and subjects as public schools. Schools serving students with learning disabilities may use alternative assessments like portfolios or parent-agreed evaluations instead of standardized tests. The bill requires schools to share test results and student lists with parents and the state education department upon request, directly affecting all nonpublic schools operating under these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts up to $25,000 of the cash value or death benefit from life insurance policies from asset calculations when determining eligibility for West Virginia Medicaid. It directly affects residents applying for Medicaid who own life insurance policies, allowing them to retain more policy value without losing benefits. The key provision sets a clear $25,000 threshold for exemption, meaning only amounts above this limit would count toward Medicaid asset limits. This change modifies how Medicaid assesses applicants' financial resources, specifically excluding qualifying life insurance assets from the calculation.

Maddy summarySB 853 clarifies registration requirements for individuals and organizations bidding at public auctions of tax-abandoned land held by West Virginia's State Auditor. It requires bidders to register in advance with the Auditor's office or submit a notarized affidavit on the auction day, and prohibits registration for those with past payment defaults, delinquent property taxes, repeated code enforcement violations, or unresolved legal disputes related to property ownership. The bill specifically allows 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on housing or public facilities to bid at auctions, provided their bid is no more than 5% lower than the highest non-nonprofit bid. This affects anyone seeking to purchase tax-foreclosed land through county auctions, ensuring bidders meet specific eligibility criteria before participating.