Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain non-grantor trusts from West Virginia's personal income tax if they are administered within the state. Specifically, it removes income tax liability for non-grantor trusts (trusts not treated as grantor trusts under federal law) that are created under West Virginia law or have their legal situs in the state, and are managed by a West Virginia resident trustee or a licensed private trust company with a physical presence in the state. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2027, and affects trust administrators and beneficiaries of qualifying trusts. This is a direct tax policy change that alters which entities owe state income tax, without altering tax rates for individuals or other entities.

Maddy summarySB 133 amends West Virginia's teacher certification rules to expand where educators can fulfill teaching experience requirements. Specifically, it revises §18A-3-3 to allow teaching experience toward certificate renewal or permanent certification to be earned at *any* nonpublic school - accredited or unaccredited - rather than only accredited ones. This directly affects teachers seeking to renew professional certificates or attain permanent certification. The change simplifies the pathway by removing the previous distinction between accredited and unaccredited nonpublic schools for meeting experience requirements. The bill does not alter other certification conditions like degree requirements or internship programs.

Maddy summarySB 68 creates the "Voluntary Portable Benefit Account Act" in West Virginia, allowing independent contractors to open personal accounts to fund benefits like health insurance, retirement, or life insurance. Businesses hiring independent contractors (called "hiring parties") may voluntarily contribute to these accounts, but only with the contractor’s explicit written agreement and opt-in consent. The bill explicitly prohibits using these contributions to determine a worker’s employment classification as an independent contractor. It defines key terms and ensures contributions cannot be used as a factor in worker classification decisions.

Maddy summarySB 83 reduces the required number of days substitute teachers must work in a school year to accrue seniority for full-time teaching positions, from 133 days to 80 days. This change applies specifically to non-retired substitute teachers seeking permanent, full-time roles, excluding retired educators. The bill modifies existing law to make seniority eligibility more accessible by lowering the employment threshold. This policy directly affects substitute educators in West Virginia school districts aiming for permanent teaching positions.

Maddy summarySB 39 requires West Virginia public schools with students in grades three through six to implement a heart health program. The program must include 12 consecutive weeks of nutrition and aerobic exercise education annually, delivered through flexible formats like books, digital tools, or in-person classes. Schools must align the program with state health standards, track student participation, and report data to the state education department. This directly affects all public schools serving grades three through six in West Virginia, mandating specific health education requirements during the school day.

Maddy summarySB 72 requires medical professionals who administer vaccines to report all injuries and side effects directly to West Virginia's Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that these professionals receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill requires the Bureau to create a public reporting mechanism for individuals (including parents) to submit adverse vaccine reactions and to produce an annual report for the West Virginia Legislature. These changes aim to improve tracking of vaccine safety data and public transparency.

Maddy summarySB 129 terminates the Design-Build Board by repealing the section of law that established it (§5-22A-5). This bill amends related sections of the Design-Build Procurement Act to maintain the existing process for using design-build contracts for public projects without the oversight board. The change ensures the design-build method - where a single contractor handles both design and construction - can continue operating under current procedures. The bill does not alter how projects are selected or managed, only removes the board responsible for certifying project compliance.

Maddy summarySB 56 requires West Virginia's Medicaid program (administered by the Department of Human Services) to reimburse providers for remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal nonstress tests when patients receive care from home or another off-site location. The bill mandates reimbursement using established CPT codes, provided the same standard of care is met, and requires providers to use FDA-approved digital technology compliant with HIPAA for secure data transmission. It specifically allows reimbursement for CPT Code 59025 (fetal nonstress tests) when using FDA-cleared at-home monitoring devices for fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate, and uterine activity. The bill also eliminates a 30-day waiting period between patient consent and the procedure, directing the Department to issue implementation guidance.

Maddy summarySB 69 requires West Virginia's public colleges and universities to accept the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a valid standardized test for college admissions, alongside the ACT and SAT. It directly affects students applying to these institutions who take the CLT, ensuring they cannot be forced to take additional tests if they meet the CLT score requirements. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include the CLT in the list of accepted tests, preventing institutions from requiring alternate assessments for admission. This change provides more testing options for applicants without altering the core admission criteria or requirements.

Maddy summarySB 64 requires the West Virginia Legislature to include specific ballot language - such as the amendment's title, summary, and description - in any legislative resolution proposing a constitutional amendment. This ensures voters see clear, standardized information about proposed changes on election ballots. Currently, if the Legislature omits this language, the Secretary of State fills the gap; this bill mandates it be included upfront. The bill directly affects voters, election officials, and the ballot content for constitutional amendment votes. It changes the process by making consistent ballot language a mandatory part of the legislative resolution, rather than an optional or later-added detail.