Rep. Mike Hite

Maddy summaryHB 4395 requires school boards to continue investigations into allegations that school personnel harmed student safety or welfare, even if the employee resigns or transfers to another school. It mandates that investigations must be completed regardless of the employee's employment status, and county superintendents must report all such cases - including reasons for suspension - to the state superintendent within seven business days. The state superintendent will maintain a confidential database of all investigated personnel, including the basis for investigations or disciplinary actions. This bill directly affects school personnel, school boards, and county superintendents by ensuring ongoing accountability for potential child safety violations.

Maddy summaryHB 4749 amends West Virginia's Foster Child Bill of Rights to ensure foster children aged 13 and older receive specific protections during court hearings affecting their care. The bill requires legal representatives (like guardians ad litem) to notify these children about upcoming hearings, ask if they wish to attend, and explain that the hearing might be distressing without discouraging attendance. It also mandates that the hearing outcome be explained to the child by their legal representative. These provisions directly affect foster youth in West Virginia aged 13+ involved in court proceedings related to their placement.

Maddy summaryHB 5527 creates a licensing framework for wellness reimbursement programs in West Virginia. It requires administrators of these programs - which reimburse qualified medical expenses under federal tax rules - to obtain a license from the Insurance Commissioner, pay a $5,000 initial fee, and meet financial and character standards. The bill mandates annual financial reporting, surety bonds, and compliance with federal ERISA laws, while clarifying that these programs do not cover underlying health insurance. It directly affects companies managing wellness reimbursement plans, ensuring they operate under state oversight. The law does not change how individuals access medical expense reimbursements but regulates the businesses providing these services.

Maddy summaryHB 4335 requires West Virginia's Medicaid program to process provider enrollment applications within 5 business days of receipt and mandates managed care organizations to complete provider credentialing within 60 days. The bill establishes a unified electronic platform for all Medicaid provider applications, renewals, and documentation, eliminating paper submissions starting July 1, 2026. It also sets penalties for managed care organizations that miss deadlines, including monetary sanctions or "credentialing-by-default" by the Department of Human Services. This bill directly affects Medicaid providers (like doctors and clinics), managed care organizations, and the Department of Human Services.

Maddy summaryHB 4196 requires licensed medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs in West Virginia to offer long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as IUDs or implants, to patients receiving methadone or suboxone for substance use treatment. This applies to all facilities providing these services under the state's licensing framework, adding it as a standard requirement to existing operational rules. The bill directly affects MAT facilities, which must now integrate LARC options into their care protocols, and patients using methadone or suboxone at these locations. It creates a concrete policy change by mandating access to these contraceptive methods without requiring additional patient steps.

Maddy summaryHB 4869 creates two guaranteed periods for West Virginia seniors to purchase Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies without medical underwriting or pre-existing condition exclusions. It provides a 60-day window annually around each individual’s birthday for current policyholders to switch to a policy with the same or fewer benefits, and a 63-day window starting the day after Medicaid eligibility ends for those turning 65 or losing Medicaid. Insurers must offer coverage during these periods but are not required to provide new policies or alter existing benefit structures. The bill also mandates annual reports on Medigap premium trends for legislative review but does not change Medicare Advantage plans or require insurers to offer specific rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires physicians and osteopathic doctors in West Virginia to complete continuing education credits specifically in nutrition as part of their biennial license renewal process. The law mandates that medical professionals earn a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical education every two years, with osteopathic physicians required to complete thirty-two hours including nutrition training, and these credits must be approved by relevant medical boards. The bill amends existing state code sections to make nutrition education a mandatory component of the continuing education requirement for license renewal.

Maddy summaryHB 5074 changes how revenue from West Virginia's medical cannabis program is allocated. For fiscal year 2026, it directs $3 million to the Supreme Court for a child protection pilot, $10 million each to West Virginia University and Marshall University for ibogaine research, and $5 million to homelessness services, with remaining funds reverting to general revenue. Starting July 1, 2026, annual allocations will be: 15% to the Medical Cannabis Bureau for administration, 15% to the Department of Agriculture for cannabis testing, and 45% split among the Fight Substance Abuse Fund (20%), university research (10% each to Marshall and WVU), a Child Protection Commission (10%), and law enforcement training programs (40%). These changes apply to ongoing revenue from medical cannabis taxes, not new taxes or fees.

Maddy summaryHB 4626 establishes a West Virginia grant program to fund U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine, a substance being studied for treating opioid use disorder and other neurological/mental health conditions. The program requires applicants (e.g., pharmaceutical companies or research organizations) to demonstrate capacity to conduct FDA trials, secure approval for ibogaine as a medication, and commit to establishing a state presence, securing insurance coverage, and ensuring treatment access for uninsured patients. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, safety protocols, and plans for intellectual property rights and post-approval implementation, with grants administered through a state selection committee. The bill does not approve ibogaine but aims to accelerate its development pathway through state-funded trials.

Maddy summaryHB 5510 removes a requirement that private wedding venues in West Virginia must own or lease at least two acres of land in a rural area to operate. This change directly affects private wedding venues, particularly those in rural locations that previously faced this land-use barrier. The bill amends West Virginia Code §60-7-2 (relating to private club licenses) to eliminate the two-acre minimum, simplifying licensing for these venues. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing through legislative committees.