Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes West Virginia's Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners to implement continuing education requirements for licensed professionals in these fields, referencing an existing rule (18 CSR 02) filed in the State Register on June 3, 2025. It does not create new policy but formally permits the board to enforce its established continuing education standards. The bill directly affects medical imaging and radiation therapy technicians who must meet these education requirements to maintain licensure. This is a procedural measure to confirm the board's authority over its existing rule.

Maddy summarySB 316 authorizes West Virginia's Department of Agriculture to implement and enforce existing regulations for Grade A pasteurized milk under the code (61 CSR 15). This bill directly affects dairy producers and processors who must comply with these milk safety and quality standards. The key mechanism is reauthorizing a rule that was previously modified to address legislative committee feedback and refiled in the State Register. The bill does not create new standards but formally permits the agency to enforce the established regulatory framework. This is a procedural measure to finalize the rule-making process, not a substantive change to milk regulations.

Maddy summarySB 362 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy to implement a rule (15 CSR 12) that sets standards for pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians administering immunizations. The rule, developed through the state's rule-making process and revised in 2025, outlines specific requirements for vaccine administration, including training and documentation. This bill does not expand or restrict immunization practices but formalizes the existing rule for enforcement. It directly affects pharmacists and pharmacy staff in West Virginia who provide vaccination services.

Maddy summarySB 342 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Landscape Architects to implement a specific rule (9 CSR 04) that allows certain individuals to apply for a waiver of initial licensing fees when seeking a landscape architecture license. The bill directly affects new applicants for landscape architecture licensure who qualify under the rule's criteria. It formalizes the Board's existing regulatory authority to establish this fee waiver process without creating new eligibility standards or financial obligations. As a procedural measure, the bill does not change the substance of the fee waiver but ensures the rule has legal standing under state law.

Maddy summarySB 410 changes where vehicle registration renewal stickers are placed, requiring most stickers to be affixed to the inside of the back window instead of the license plate after January 1, 2027. This applies to all vehicle registrations except Class G registrations (standard passenger vehicles), which will continue to display stickers on license plates. The bill aims to make stickers harder to steal by moving them to a less accessible location inside the vehicle, where they remain visible through the back window. Owners of Class G vehicles will not be affected by this change, and the bill does not alter existing fees or requirements for standard plate displays.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia's rules for assisted living residences under the Office of Inspector General. It clarifies the definition of "serious injury" to include fractures, lacerations requiring closure, burns, or limited mobility, and updates terminology to replace "volunteer" with "uncompensated direct access personnel" in facility staffing rules. The bill also adds new requirements for residents using videoconferencing equipment, mandating facility notification, privacy policies, and resident consent for each session. These changes directly affect assisted living facilities and their residents by standardizing safety definitions and technology use policies.

Maddy summarySB 414, the "Keep Accreditation About Academics Act," prohibits accrediting agencies from considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in accreditation decisions for West Virginia public colleges and universities. The bill defines DEI as any practice involving differential treatment based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics and bans accrediting agencies from collecting, reviewing, or requiring such initiatives. It allows students, employees, or the Attorney General to sue accrediting agencies for violations, with penalties including triple damages and attorney fees. The law directly affects West Virginia's public higher education institutions and their accreditors by restricting how accreditation decisions are made. This bill aims to limit accreditation processes to academic standards alone, removing DEI considerations from evaluation criteria.

Maddy summarySB 313 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to implement a specific rule (61 CSR 08) that establishes grading and quality standards for apples. This rule, developed and revised to address legislative committee feedback, will directly affect apple growers and processors in the state by requiring them to meet standardized quality benchmarks for their products. The bill does not create new standards but formally approves an existing rule that has undergone the required legislative review process.

Maddy summarySB 327 authorizes the West Virginia State Auditor to enforce a legislative rule that sets standards for payment requisitions submitted by state officers. This rule, previously filed in 2025 and modified in 2025 (155 CSR 01), specifies required formats and content for state agencies' payment requests to the Auditor. It directly affects state officers and agencies that issue payment requisitions, ensuring standardized submissions for processing. The bill does not create new requirements but formalizes an existing rule under state code.

Maddy summarySB 266 amends West Virginia law to authorize the Department of Health to update its water well regulations (64 CSR 19), directly affecting well drillers, pump installers, and property owners who rely on private wells. The bill establishes certification requirements for professionals, mandates permits for well construction, and sets design standards to protect groundwater and public health. It replaces the 1989 version of these regulations with updated provisions, including a sunset clause terminating the rule on August 1, 2028. The changes aim to standardize well construction practices and prevent contamination in private water sources.