Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summaryThis bill grants municipal fire marshals in West Virginia the authority to assist law enforcement officers in carrying out their official duties. It allows fire marshals to arrest individuals who disobey lawful orders at fire scenes, violate arson or explosive offense prohibitions, obstruct a fire marshal, or fail to obey lawful commands, provided they receive required law enforcement training. The legislation also permits fire marshals to file criminal complaints to obtain arrest warrants and clarifies that assistance to federal law enforcement is subject to specific limitations. Additionally, fire marshals may help other law enforcement officers execute their duties when requested, but must work under the direct supervision of the requesting officer.

Maddy summarySB 695 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Commerce to implement a specific rule (145 CSR 20) that sets requirements for certifying microgrid districts and high impact data centers. The rule, which was modified to address legislative feedback and refilled in the state register on January 29, 2026, outlines the process for these certifications. This bill makes the rule legally effective, directly affecting businesses and organizations in West Virginia seeking these certifications.

Maddy summarySB 257 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement a rule (45 CSR 08) that establishes ambient air quality standards. This rule, filed on July 23, 2025, defines acceptable levels of air pollutants, directly affecting industries that emit pollution and communities by setting enforceable requirements for air quality. The bill does not change the standards themselves but formally authorizes the DEP to enforce the existing rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts registered on-farm manufacturers from needing commercial feed manufacturing, distributor, or guarantor permits. It directly affects farmers who produce and sell feed on their own farms (after registering with the state), excluding those making feed only for their own animals. The key provision removes requirements for reports, fees, and brand-name registrations for these registered producers. This simplifies regulations for small-scale feed production while maintaining oversight through the registration process.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Division of Water and Waste Management to implement an existing hazardous waste management rule (33 CSR 20), which was filed in the State Register on July 23, 2025. It does not create new policy but formally incorporates the rule into state law. The rule governs the state's hazardous waste management system, affecting businesses and facilities handling hazardous waste. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on legalizing the agency's existing regulatory framework.

Maddy summarySB 261 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement a specific rule (45 CSR 34) that sets emission standards for hazardous air pollutants. This rule would directly affect industrial facilities and businesses emitting these pollutants, requiring them to meet new or updated emission limits. The bill formally approves a legislative rule previously filed by the DEP in the State Register on July 23, 2025, under existing authority. It does not create new standards but enables the DEP to enforce the existing rule through administrative processes. The bill is procedural, focusing on authorizing the rule's implementation rather than altering pollution requirements.

Maddy summarySB 665 prohibits weather modification and geoengineering activities within West Virginia, including cloud seeding, stratospheric aerosol injections, and solar radiation modification. It defines prohibited actions as any intentional release of atmospheric contaminants (such as chemicals, particles, or radiation) that could harm human health, the environment, agriculture, or public safety. The law establishes enforcement through the Department of Environmental Protection and sets penalties for violations. This applies to all entities, including government agencies, corporations, and organizations conducting such activities in the state.

Maddy summarySB 265 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement a specific fee schedule for carbon dioxide sequestration projects, as outlined in the existing rule 47 CSR 09B. This rule directly affects companies or entities engaged in carbon sequestration activities, such as energy producers or industrial facilities, by requiring them to pay fees under the established schedule. The bill itself does not set new fees but formally authorizes the DEP to enforce the previously developed fee structure through its regulatory rulemaking process.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows county school boards participating in multicounty vocational centers to choose whether to operate career technical education (CTE) programs within local high schools instead of at centralized centers. The programs can be either state-approved (per 20 U.S.C. §2342) or locally created. It gives school boards flexibility to better serve students by bringing CTE programs closer to their home schools, without requiring withdrawal from multicounty centers. The bill does not mandate program relocation but provides a new option for program placement within existing high school structures.

Maddy summarySB 262 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to enforce an existing regulatory rule (45 CSR 43) controlling specific air pollutants. The rule targets annual nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, annual sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, and nitrogen oxides emissions during the ozone season. This legislation directly affects facilities that emit these pollutants, such as power plants and industrial sources, by enabling the DEP to implement and enforce the established emission limits under this rule. The bill does not create new emission standards but formally authorizes the DEP to use the pre-existing rule.