Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summarySB 610 amends West Virginia law to change how medical exemptions to school vaccination requirements are granted. It eliminates the state commissioner's authority and the position of "State Immunization Officer," instead requiring a treating physician or advanced practice provider to issue a written statement to a child's school or childcare center if vaccination would be detrimental to the child's health. This directly affects children entering schools or childcare centers, as exemptions now rely solely on healthcare provider documentation rather than state official review. The bill maintains existing vaccine requirements (chickenpox, measles, polio, etc.) but shifts the exemption process to healthcare providers.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 612 designates November 7 as "Victims of Communism Day" for public schools, requiring high school students in the mandated U.S. Government class to receive at least 45 minutes of annual instruction on this topic. The bill specifies instruction must cover historical communist regimes (including Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, Stalin's Soviet system, and others) and how victims suffered through poverty, violence, and suppression. It directs the State Board of Education to revise social studies standards by April 2026 to include these requirements. The observance applies to all public schools, with make-up days if November 7 falls on a non-school day. This bill directly affects West Virginia public school students and educators in required U.S. Government courses.

Maddy summarySB 632, the "Atmospheric Intervention Oversight and Public Safety Act," prohibits unauthorized weather-altering activities within West Virginia, including cloud seeding, stratospheric aerosol injection, and electromagnetic or thermal energy-based modifications. It directly affects any individual, organization, or entity conducting such activities in or above the state, requiring prior state authorization from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for permitted interventions. The bill establishes DEP as the lead agency to enforce prohibitions, investigate violations through cooperative efforts with law enforcement, and impose penalties for unauthorized actions. It defines prohibited activities broadly and mandates transparency, while explicitly stating DEP shall not issue permits for atmospheric modification (per §22-37-3(a)).

Maddy summarySB 608 would amend West Virginia law to add a religious exemption for school immunization requirements. It allows children to be exempt from mandatory vaccines (chickenpox, measles, polio, and others) if parents or guardians submit a signed certification stating their sincerely held religious objections. This exemption would apply to children entering public, private, or parochial schools and state-regulated child care centers. The bill does not change the list of required vaccines or existing medical exemptions, but adds religious objections as a new basis for exemption. Schools and child care centers would need to accept these religious exemption certifications for enrollment.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 618 prohibits West Virginia state and local public funds from supporting postsecondary degree programs identified as having "low-earning outcomes" under federal standards. It requires the Higher Education Policy Council to adopt rules blocking state funding - covering student aid, operational costs, grants, and facilities - from such programs and to annually report on blocked programs and fiscal impacts. This directly affects public universities and colleges receiving state funding, as well as students enrolled in designated programs. The bill implements a policy change by tying state education funding eligibility to graduate earnings data, rather than program content or accreditation.

Maddy summarySB 66 simplifies West Virginia's emergency declaration system by reducing the two existing classes of "state of preparedness" (Class I and Class II) to a single level, similar to the current "state of emergency" framework. This change eliminates distinctions in expiration timelines - previously Class I expired in 30 days (requiring legislative extension) while Class II terminated via proclamation - replacing them with one standardized process. The bill also clarifies that combined durations for a state of preparedness followed by a state of emergency cannot exceed 90 days without proper legislative extension. It directly affects the Governor and Legislature, who declare these states, and ensures consistent procedures for public safety responses during crises. (Amends §15-5-6 of West Virginia Code.)

Maddy summarySenate Bill 606 would allow private-sector employees in West Virginia to opt out of employer-mandated vaccinations based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Employees would need to provide a certificate stating their religious objection to their employer, and employers could not retaliate against them through penalties like withholding bonuses, pay raises, or promotions. The bill directly affects employees and employers in the private sector, establishing a specific religious exemption from vaccination requirements. It amends West Virginia's labor law to guarantee this right without requiring additional proof beyond the employee's certificate. This policy change creates a clear, legally protected exemption pathway for religious objections to workplace vaccination mandates.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 18 (SR 18) designates January 27, 2026, as Sexual Violence Awareness Day at the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution formally recognizes the prevalence of sexual violence in the state (citing West Virginia women ranking fifth nationally in sexual coercion victimizations) and supports agencies like the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment to honor survivors, support victim services, and renew commitment to addressing sexual violence.

Maddy summarySB 591 prohibits public and charter schools in West Virginia from teaching students to believe certain "divisive concepts," such as the idea that one race is inherently superior or that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist. The bill defines these concepts broadly, including claims about inherent racial or sexual superiority, historical blame, or discrimination based on race or sex. Teachers who teach these concepts may face dismissal, though the bill allows objective academic discussion of them without endorsement. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 544 provides a temporary increase in subsidy payments for kinship parents (relatives caring for children) to match foster parent rates, lasting up to six months. To qualify, kinship parents must complete a state and national criminal background check within five days of placement, pass the check, undergo a home safety screening, and receive a list of child-placing agencies from the Department of Human Services to assist with foster parent certification. The temporary payment begins within 30 days of placement and continues monthly until certification is achieved or the six-month period ends, whichever comes first. Kinship parents cover the cost of background checks and fingerprinting.