Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summarySB 57 amends West Virginia law to explicitly include property used for educational and charitable activities on land primarily for divine worship (like churches) under the existing property tax exemption. This means churches operating schools, daycare centers, or community programs on their property will now qualify for full tax exemption on that land, not just the worship space. The bill clarifies that if a portion of religious property serves educational, literary, scientific, or charitable purposes - such as a church-run school or community center - the entire property remains exempt. It directly affects religious organizations and nonprofits using their land for these combined purposes. The change refines existing law (§11-3-9) without creating new exemptions.

Maddy summarySB 71 requires health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for pediatric patients diagnosed with specific conditions: pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), and related autoimmune encephalopathies. This applies to all health insurance plans (including Medicaid) issued or renewed after January 1, 2027 (Medicaid) or July 1, 2027 (other plans). The key provision mandates that coverage is only available after a physician obtains prior authorization by demonstrating all other treatments have been exhausted. The bill directly affects children with these conditions and their families, ensuring access to this specific treatment while adding a step to verify medical necessity.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 46 requires every public school in West Virginia to observe one minute of silence at the start of each school day. It directly affects all students and teachers in public schools, mandating that teachers ensure silence without suggesting any specific activity (like prayer or meditation). The bill prohibits teachers from guiding students on what to do during this time and requires the Attorney General to defend the law. This creates a neutral period for individual reflection, with no state influence on students' choices.

Maddy summarySB 134 proposes renaming the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy to the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. This bill amends multiple sections of state law to update all references to the board's name, without changing the board's composition, responsibilities, or regulatory authority. The change affects how the board is identified in all official legal references within West Virginia's code. The bill is currently in the introduction phase and has not yet been voted on.

Maddy summarySB 51, titled the "Baby Olivia Act," requires all West Virginia public schools to teach a mandatory course on human growth and development starting in third grade. The course must include two specific educational materials: a high-definition ultrasound video showing fetal organ development and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video detailing human development from conception to birth. The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt curriculum rules, and the Attorney General can enforce compliance with civil penalties for nonadherence. This law directly affects public school students in grades three and above across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia law to increase the annual funding limit for the Water Development Authority's Critical Needs and Failing Systems Sub Account from $12 million to $14 million. It allows the Authority to provide grants for projects upgrading water or wastewater facilities to reduce maintenance, operations, or leak costs, with a $300,000 cost cap per project. The bill expands eligibility to include facilities failing due to age or needing extensions to serve new customers (under $2 million total cost), while exempting these grants from standard allocation rules. It directly affects public water systems, local governments, and utility providers managing aging infrastructure statewide.

Maddy summarySB 171 creates the West Virginia Released Time Education Act, allowing students to be excused from school for religious instruction courses. School districts must adopt policies permitting excusal for up to five hours weekly (with parental written consent), requiring sponsoring religious entities to handle transportation, liability, and attendance records without using school funds. Schools must award academic credit for these courses based solely on secular criteria like class hours, syllabus content, and instructor qualifications - excluding religious content. The bill specifies that excused time counts toward school attendance for funding and attendance requirements, and it provides legal remedies for violations.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 172 would create a state-issued digital currency backed by physical gold stored in the West Virginia Bullion Depository. Residents could purchase units of this currency, with each unit representing a specific fraction of a troy ounce of gold held in trust. The currency can be redeemed either for cash (based on current gold value) or for physical gold, with fees applied to transactions. All funds from purchases and gold sales would be held in a dedicated trust fund, separate from regular state appropriations, managed by the State Treasurer.

Maddy summarySB 43 would remove the existing exceptions that allow abortions in cases of rape or incest from West Virginia's abortion law. Currently, these exceptions require victims to report the assault to law enforcement and wait 48 hours before obtaining an abortion. If passed, the bill would eliminate these pathways, meaning abortions would only be permitted for nonviable pregnancies, ectopic pregnancies, or medical emergencies. This change would directly affect individuals who become pregnant due to rape or incest by removing their current legal access to abortion care in those circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 156 changes West Virginia's motor vehicle property tax system by replacing tax credits with direct refunds for eligible owners. It defines "eligible taxpayers" to include vehicle owners (including those with financing or leases), lessors who pass savings to lessees, and pass-through entity owners, while excluding motor vehicle dealers on retail inventory. The bill streamlines processing by requiring counties to report eligible claims weekly and mandating refunds within 30 days via check or direct deposit. This update simplifies the current system by shifting from credits applied against income tax to immediate cash refunds for timely-paid property taxes.