Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summarySB 284 authorizes the West Virginia State Police to implement a career progression system rule that was revised to address legislative committee feedback. The rule, resubmitted to the State Register in September 2025, establishes clear standards for officer promotions and pay increases within the department. This bill directly affects all West Virginia State Police officers by formalizing their career advancement pathways under state law.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 10) is a symbolic recognition resolution, not a law. It directs the Senate to formally acknowledge "the Day of the Bible" at the Capitol, citing the historical significance of the 1782 Aitken Bible (the first complete English-language Bible printed in America) and the Bible's broader cultural and moral influence. The resolution encourages reflection on the Bible's role in shaping ethics, justice, and civic life, while affirming religious freedom. It does not create new policies or affect any specific group; it is purely a ceremonial acknowledgment by the Senate.

Maddy summarySB 557 requires Child Protective Services (CPS) workers in West Virginia to attempt wearing body cameras during investigations of child abuse or neglect reports. Workers must obtain consent from the person being investigated before using cameras and may skip camera use only if it compromises a child’s privacy or hinders the investigation (with documentation required). All audio and video recordings must be stored as confidential case records for the duration of the open case. The bill directly affects CPS workers conducting investigations, aiming to increase transparency while maintaining confidentiality standards for child welfare cases.

Maddy summarySB 567 prohibits county and charter school boards from charging Hope Scholarship students fees for extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, or arts programs. It also modifies the academic requirement for students in individualized instructional programs by allowing a certified teacher to review the student's academic work annually instead of requiring standardized test scores. The bill ensures these students can access extracurricular services without additional costs while maintaining accountability through annual teacher reviews reported to county superintendents. This directly affects Hope Scholarship students and school boards managing the program in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 563 repeals specific exemptions that allowed three West Virginia state agencies to operate outside the standard Division of Personnel's rules. It removes special personnel provisions for the Department of Transportation (§5F-2-8), the Tax Division (§11B-1-8), and the Bureau for Social Services (§49-10-101-103). The bill requires these agencies to follow the state's standard hiring, pay, and personnel management procedures governed by the Division of Personnel. This change directly affects how these agencies manage their staff, bringing them under unified state personnel oversight.

Maddy summarySB 520 prohibits foreign nationals and certain foreign-owned U.S. entities from making contributions or expenditures to influence ballot issues in West Virginia elections. It defines "foreign national" broadly to include non-citizens, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and U.S. entities majority-owned by foreign nationals (unless they meet specific U.S. operations and decision-making conditions). The bill establishes civil penalties, including requiring violators to disgorge funds to the state treasury, and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce the law through civil actions. This directly affects political committees, candidates, and organizations receiving or soliciting contributions related to ballot issues from prohibited sources.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 547, the Truth in Giving Act, requires thrift stores to clearly disclose whether donations support charities or for-profit businesses. It mandates that stores selling donated goods display specific information: nonprofits must share the charity's name and contact details, while for-profit stores must state "THIS IS NOT A CHARITY" along with the business owner's information. This disclosure must appear on drop boxes, at donation points, and at checkout locations. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 for repeat offenses, enforced by the Secretary of State.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 514 prohibits all geoengineering activities within or over the state, including weather modification, cloud seeding, stratospheric aerosol injection, and solar radiation modification. The bill defines these activities as intentional releases of pollutants or harmful substances into the atmosphere that could endanger health, environment, agriculture, or public safety. It requires the state secretary to investigate credible reports of such activities, issue immediate cessation orders, and enforce penalties for violations. This law directly affects any entity - individuals, corporations, government agencies, or international bodies - conducting prohibited activities within West Virginia's airspace.

Maddy summarySB 528 would make permanent daylight saving time (currently observed in summer) the official time for all West Virginia public schools, colleges, government agencies, and businesses. It specifies this time would apply year-round starting March 2nd and ending November 1st, aligning with current daylight saving schedules. However, the bill explicitly states it would only take effect if Congress passes federal legislation allowing states to observe daylight saving time permanently. This bill is conditional and does not change current time practices until federal approval is secured.

Maddy summarySCR 2 is a symbolic Senate Concurrent Resolution (not a law) introduced in West Virginia on January 19, 2026. It expresses legislative support for religious freedom in public spaces, specifically endorsing practices like public school students and teachers openly expressing their faith, accommodating religious observances in government settings, protecting religious symbols in public areas, and fostering respectful dialogue among faiths. The resolution cites historical documents and recent Supreme Court decisions (like *Kennedy v. Bremerton*) to frame its support for religious expression in public life. It does not create new legal requirements or change existing laws, as it is a non-binding statement of principle.