Sen. Rollan Roberts

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 433, the "Dental Insurance Transparency Act," requires dental insurance carriers to publicly report how they spend premium money. It mandates annual reports showing that at least 80% of premiums must cover actual dental care (not administrative costs), with carriers issuing premium rebates if they spend less. The law applies to all non-Medicaid dental plans covering 2+ enrollees, including both large group (51+ people) and small group plans. Carriers must disclose enrollment details, coverage limits, and spending data to the state Insurance Commissioner for public review.

Maddy summarySB 250 would allow West Virginia schoolchildren to be exempt from required vaccine mandates by having parents or guardians submit a signed statement citing religious objections to school officials. This creates a new religious exemption, separate from the existing medical exemption process (which requires a physician's certification for health reasons). Schools and childcare facilities would be prohibited from questioning, penalizing, or discriminating against families using this exemption. The bill does not change the list of required vaccines (chickenpox, measles, hepatitis-B, etc.) or alter the medical exemption process.

Maddy summarySB 190 increases the retirement benefit multiplier for deputy sheriffs in West Virginia from 2.5% to 3% of their final average salary, multiplied by their years of credited service. This change directly affects current and future members of the Deputy Sheriff Retirement System who retire on or after July 1, 2018. The bill amends the existing retirement formula to provide a higher benefit percentage without altering contribution rates or eligibility rules. This policy change results in larger monthly retirement payments for qualifying deputy sheriffs based on their salary and service length.

Maddy summarySB 258 amends West Virginia's Teachers Retirement System to allow members who joined on or after July 1, 2015, to convert their accrued annual and sick leave into additional retirement service credit. Specifically, each day of accrued leave counts as one day of service credit toward calculating retirement benefits. This change directly affects newer public school teachers in the system by increasing their retirement benefits based on unused leave. The bill modifies §5-16-13 of the West Virginia Code to implement this conversion, providing a concrete policy change without altering health insurance provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires replacing the Robert C. Byrd statue in the West Virginia Capitol rotunda with four new statues - George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, and Arthur I. Boreman - each placed in a corner of the rotunda. It directs the Department of Administration to use existing funds from the "capitol renovation and improvement fund" for this replacement, without creating new costs or policy changes. The bill is purely procedural, affecting Capitol decor, not public policy or citizen rights.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 251 requires all West Virginia county boards of education to make their meetings fully accessible to the public. It mandates that meetings be broadcast live via internet on the board's website and that both audio and video recordings be available online. The bill also requires county boards to post detailed minutes within two business days, including each member's vote on every substantive decision, with approved minutes remaining online for at least one year. This applies to all regular and special meetings, except executive sessions, and allows meetings to continue briefly during minor technical interruptions in the live stream.

Maddy summarySB 108 would amend West Virginia law to allow private schools (including parochial and church schools) to make immunizations voluntary for students, rather than requiring them. Currently, private schools must maintain immunization records (per §18-28-2(b)), but this bill removes that mandate. The change directly affects students enrolled in private schools and their families, as it eliminates the requirement for schools to enforce vaccine compliance. The bill does not alter immunization rules for public schools or child care centers.

Maddy summarySB 43 updates West Virginia law to require certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to meet specific new credentialing standards when administering anesthetics under physician or dentist supervision. To qualify, CRNAs must now hold a registered nursing license, an advanced practice nursing license, graduate from an accredited nurse anesthetist program, and hold board certification from the National Board of Certification. The bill clarifies that this supervision requires active collaboration ("cooperation") between the CRNA and the physician or dentist, with each working within their respective expertise. This directly affects CRNAs, physicians, and dentists providing anesthesia services in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the West Virginia Legislature to replace the state's existing statue of John Kenna in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol with a new statue honoring Hershel "Woody" Williams. The legislation recognizes Williams as a Medal of Honor recipient and founder of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument program, citing his military service and community contributions as worthy of national commemoration. To implement this change, the bill establishes a commission to select a sculptor, authorizes the Governor to fund the project from a contingency fund, and mandates that the removed John Kenna statue be displayed at the State Culture Center.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors David Allen Stover for his public service in West Virginia. It acknowledges his career as a teacher, his time as Wyoming County Circuit Clerk, and his single term in the state Senate. The bill formally expresses the Senate's appreciation for his dedication and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to him.