Sen. Rollan Roberts

Maddy summarySB 841 prohibits all West Virginia state government entities - including public schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and social services offices - from promoting, facilitating, or funding any discussions, programs, or medical procedures related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning. The bill bans state funds for gender transition treatments (like hormone therapy or puberty blockers), restricts school materials discussing gender identity, and prohibits staff from engaging in related training or curriculum. Violations could result in employee termination, funding suspension, or lawsuits by West Virginia residents. This directly affects state-funded institutions and their educational, medical, and administrative activities.

Maddy summarySB 854, titled the "Creating Academic Quality in Public Education Act," establishes new standards for West Virginia public schools. It requires a minimum 180-day school year with five hours of daily instruction, annual attendance and immunization records shared with parents, and compliance with health/safety inspections and crisis response planning. The bill mandates annual standardized testing using nationally normed assessments, with results provided to parents and the State Superintendent, and sets a 40th percentile benchmark for school performance. If a school’s test scores fall below this benchmark for two consecutive years, students attending that school would no longer satisfy the state’s compulsory attendance requirement and would be considered delinquent.

Maddy summarySB 472 requires the West Virginia Department of Human Services to make public reports of child abuse or neglect through the newly created Critical Incident Review Team, replacing current confidentiality rules. It mandates that the public access these reports in the same format as the team’s existing reporting, adds specific data to the child welfare dashboard, and allows the Foster Care Ombudsman access to case information - including reporter identities. The bill amends existing laws (§49-2-809, §49-5-101, and §49-11-101) to enable this transparency while maintaining confidentiality for certain sensitive details. It directly affects the Department of Human Services (which must implement the changes), the public (who gains access to reports), and child welfare stakeholders. The law creates the Critical Incident Review Team to oversee this process and sets reporting requirements for the department.

Maddy summarySB 804 gives public charter schools direct control over all extracurricular activities for their students, replacing county board oversight. It allows charter schools to optionally delegate athletic and band activities to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC), which would now be a state agency managing rules for competitive balance (including transfer counts) and handling disputes through its executive director. The bill removes a written permission requirement for homeschoolers, Hope Scholarship participants, and microschool students to join school activities, while modifying fees they pay. It also changes commission membership to include athletic directors (or their representatives) from schools that delegate authority, and shifts all commission funds to public funds.

Maddy summarySB 796 requires all voter identification documents presented at polling places in West Virginia to include a photograph, with exceptions for Medicare and Social Security cards. The bill specifies that state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards without "NV" markings (indicating non-citizens) are acceptable, but non-citizen IDs marked "NV" are not valid for voting unless accompanied by proof of naturalization. This change affects voters who must show ID at polls and poll workers who verify identification, directly impacting how voter ID is validated during elections.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate resolution (SR 34), not a bill with binding policy changes. It expresses symbolic support for President Felix Tshisekedi and citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), condemning M23 rebel groups backed by Rwanda and calling for an immediate end to hostilities. The resolution specifically urges the cessation of violence, accountability for alleged crimes against humanity, and humanitarian aid. It does not create new laws or allocate funds; instead, it directs copies to federal officials and West Virginia's congressional delegation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 753) modifies West Virginia's dog racing licensing rules. It removes requirements that racetrack applicants must race a minimum number of dates to obtain or maintain a license, and eliminates similar requirements for securing telecast contracts or wagers. The bill also clarifies that racetracks conducting only simulcast racing (not live races) still need a racing license, and allows them to operate video lottery games in areas previously used for live racing. These changes primarily affect dog racetracks, license applicants, and video lottery operators at racetracks by simplifying licensing processes and expanding operational flexibility.

Maddy summarySB 740, the Stop Squatters Act, establishes a new process for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (squatters) from residential or commercial properties. It allows owners or their agents to request immediate police removal if conditions are met (e.g., occupant isn’t a tenant/family member, owner previously demanded they leave, and no court case is pending). The bill also creates criminal penalties: misdemeanors for damaging property under $1,000 during unlawful occupation, felonies for greater damage, and felonies for falsely listing property for sale/rent without legal title. Property owners must submit a verified complaint, and the law includes a civil remedy if removal is wrongful.

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 summarySB 611 exempts seasonal employees of ski area operators (those working less than seven months per year) from West Virginia's state maximum hour requirements. This bill amends the state labor code by adding "ski area operator" to the list of employers whose seasonal workers are excluded from overtime and maximum hour rules, similar to existing exemptions for amusement parks and whitewater outfitters. The change specifically applies to workers at ski resorts during their typical seasonal employment period, not to year-round staff or other industries. This adjustment modifies the state's labor code definition without altering minimum wage standards.