Rep. Matthew Rohrbach

Maddy summaryHB 5685 authorizes up to $150 million in bonds to fund improvements at the West Virginia Science and Culture Center and other state historical sites acquired for preserving West Virginia history. The bill creates a dedicated "Cultural Center Improvements Revenue Debt Service Fund" to be financed annually by $12 million from the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund (starting fiscal year 2026), with bonds maturing within 20 years. The Economic Development Authority must issue these bonds to cover capital improvements, and the fund will prioritize debt service payments. This directly affects the Science and Culture Center, other historical sites, and taxpayers through lottery revenue allocations.

Maddy summaryHB 5325 creates an honorific "emeritus license" for retired physicians, podiatric physicians, and physician assistants in West Virginia who meet specific criteria. To qualify, applicants must have practiced in West Virginia for at least 10 years, fully retired from clinical practice, not be under investigation, and have no disciplinary history. The license is purely symbolic - it does not permit any clinical practice, exempts holders from continuing education requirements, and remains valid for life unless the holder returns to active practice or the board revokes it. The bill also includes a temporary provision for those whose licenses expired before July 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5087 establishes the Interstate Cosmetology Licensure Compact, allowing cosmetologists licensed in West Virginia to practice in other participating states with a single multistate license. It creates the Interstate Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission to administer the agreement and requires applicants for interstate practice to undergo state and national criminal history checks. The bill directly affects cosmetologists seeking to work across state lines, particularly military members and their spouses, by reducing licensing barriers. Key provisions include standardized background checks, enforcement by the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, and mechanisms for states to share disciplinary information to protect public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 5110 lowers the age requirement for tuition waivers at West Virginia colleges from 65 to 60 years old for residents or metro area students. It creates two program options: auditors (no credit) pay up to $50 per course (excluding labs/parking), while credit-seeking students pay 50% of resident tuition. The bill requires colleges to prioritize applicants, confirm classroom space availability, and apply the same fee rules to all students. It directly affects West Virginia seniors aged 60+ seeking non-credit or credit courses at public institutions. The amendment updates existing law to expand access to affordable education for older adults.

Maddy summaryHB 5480 establishes the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program to provide paid summer jobs and career training for youth aged 14-20, with priority given to those in foster care, receiving public assistance (like TANF or SNAP), or involved in the justice system. Administered by the Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Development, the program requires partnerships with private businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to create work placements and career exploration opportunities. It mandates annual reporting on program effectiveness, allows private funding through matching contributions, and creates a special revenue account to support operations. The goal is to address workforce shortages, retain youth in West Virginia, and build a skilled local workforce through structured employment experiences.

Maddy summaryHB 5515 modernizes West Virginia's workers' compensation laws by updating outdated statutes and procedures. It revises key provisions for reporting workplace injuries, requiring employees to notify employers in writing within a specified timeframe and employers to report injuries to insurers within five days. The bill removes obsolete sections from 2005-2006 revisions, standardizes references to government agencies, updates statutory citations, and changes the Board of Review membership from five to a minimum of three but no more than five members. These changes directly affect workers, employers, and insurers by clarifying reporting requirements and streamlining administrative processes under the current workers' compensation system.

Maddy summaryHB 5458 creates a new Genetic Counselors Practice Act under West Virginia law, directly affecting individuals seeking to practice genetic counseling in the state. The bill requires criminal background checks for all new genetic counseling license applicants, mandates that practitioners hold a valid license before providing services, and defines the scope of genetic counseling practice. It prohibits genetic counselors from representing themselves as licensed physicians and establishes penalties including up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine for violations. The bill also sets continuing education requirements, licensure renewal processes, and disciplinary procedures specific to genetic counselors.

Maddy summaryHB 5048 ensures foster children in temporary care facilities continue their education through virtual learning while awaiting residential placement. It requires that virtual instruction occur in the county where the child was last enrolled (or the current county if unavailable, or the nearest capable county), and mandates that virtual learning begins within three days of placement in temporary care. Foster care agencies responsible for the child must receive IT training to support this transition. Once placed with a foster family, all educational records and virtual learning details are transferred to the new county and foster family. The bill directly affects foster children in temporary care and the agencies managing their placement.

Maddy summaryHB 5459 imposes an annual tax on certified health maintenance organizations (HMOs) operating in West Virginia that provide Medicaid services. It establishes tiered tax rates based on Medicaid member months (with higher rates for larger volumes) and non-Medicaid member months, adjusting annually using West Virginia's Medicaid capitation rate changes. Starting July 1, 2027, the tax shifts to a flat 2.5% of each HMO's gross premiums in the state, applying uniformly regardless of membership type. The bill exempts Medicare Advantage plans and certain government health plans as specified in federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 4850 requires West Virginia executors and administrators of estates to complete free online training provided by the Supreme Court of Appeals, starting January 1, 2027. The training focuses on fiduciary duties and executor responsibilities, covering key legal requirements for managing estates. The video must be accessible online, for sight-impaired users, and available at all county commissions and sheriff's offices for those without internet access. This bill directly affects individuals serving as estate administrators by adding a mandatory educational requirement before they assume full authority.