Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summaryThis procedural bill authorizes West Virginia's Board of Osteopathic Medicine to implement specific rules (24 CSR 02) governing osteopathic physician assistants. It approves a revised rule that was modified after the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee's feedback and refiled in December 2025. The bill directly affects osteopathic physician assistants and their practice regulations within the state. It does not create new policy but formalizes an administrative rule update.

Maddy summarySB 289 authorizes the West Virginia Insurance Commission to establish a rule governing how insurance companies can offer installment payment plans (premium financing) for life insurance policies purchased by college students. This rule would set requirements for insurers to follow when providing financing options, directly affecting college students seeking affordable life insurance and the insurance companies offering these services. The bill does not create the rule itself but enables the Commission to develop it through standard regulatory processes.

Maddy summarySB 279 amends a rule to clarify that child placing agencies providing behavioral health services are covered under their existing licenses, eliminating the need for separate licensure for those services. The bill adds a new provision stating the Office of Inspector General director will deem such agencies' licenses to include behavioral health services as defined in 78CSR02. This directly affects child placing agencies in West Virginia that offer behavioral health services within their current licensing scope. The policy change simplifies licensure requirements by aligning behavioral health services with existing agency licenses.

Maddy summarySB 341 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Landscape Architects to establish a legislative rule governing fees for landscape architecture licenses. This procedural bill does not set specific fee amounts but enables the board to create and update fee structures under existing authority. It directly affects licensed landscape architects who pay these fees to maintain their professional credentials. The bill references a previously filed rule (9 CSR 03) and simply confirms the board's authority to promulgate fee regulations.

Maddy summarySB 409 creates a new "course-specific teaching permit" allowing certified West Virginia high school teachers to teach specific high-quality courses - even outside their subject-area certification - after completing approved training. The bill defines "high-quality courses" as those with industry credentials, college credit, or standardized exams, and requires teachers to finish 30+ hours of approved professional learning from designated providers. School districts can assign permit-holding teachers to fill staffing gaps in these courses, and the bill guarantees that career-technical education funding won’t be reduced for courses taught by such instructors. This directly affects certified teachers seeking flexibility and school districts managing specialized course staffing.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the West Virginia Board of Medicine to implement a specific rule regarding continuing education requirements for physicians and podiatric physicians (foot care specialists). It directly affects licensed medical professionals who must complete continuing education to maintain their licenses. The bill references an existing proposed rule (11 CSR 06) that was filed in the State Register on July 25, 2025, and simply grants the Board the authority to formally adopt it. The legislation does not change the content of the continuing education requirements but enables the Board to put the rule into effect through standard regulatory processes.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 267 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Health to implement a specific rule (64 CSR 45) that establishes licensing requirements for lead abatement services. This rule directly affects contractors and workers performing lead abatement work by requiring them to obtain a valid license from the Department of Health. The bill does not alter the rule's content but provides legislative approval for its adoption, following revisions to address prior legislative committee feedback.

Maddy summarySB 339 authorizes the Commissioner of Financial Institutions to promulgate a legislative rule governing the Fintech Regulatory Sandbox Program, which enables fintech companies to test new financial products under temporary regulatory flexibility. The bill formally approves an existing rule (106 CSR 21) that was filed in the State Register on February 3, 2025. This procedural measure ensures the rule has legislative backing without altering the program's core structure or requirements. The rule directly affects fintech companies seeking to pilot innovations in a controlled environment with reduced compliance burdens.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 300 authorizes the West Virginia Tax Department to implement a specific rule (110 CSR 01M) for valuing public utility property - such as power lines, water infrastructure, and gas pipelines - when calculating property taxes. This rule, revised to address feedback from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, establishes the standard method for determining the taxable value of these properties. Public utility companies, including electric and gas providers, will be directly affected as the rule sets their property tax assessment basis. The bill formally approves the rule without changing its content, making it official for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Board of Pharmacy to implement an existing rule (15 CSR 16) regarding pharmacists' practice standards, following revisions to address legislative committee feedback. It does not change pharmacy regulations but formally approves a rule the Board had already developed and modified. The rule specifically relates to pharmacists' professional conduct and practice requirements. This is a procedural authorization, not a substantive policy change.