Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sheriffs to send certified mail notices to property owners, residents, and lienholders at least 30 days before selling property for unpaid taxes. It directly affects homeowners and property owners with delinquent taxes, ensuring they receive written notice of the upcoming sale date and amount owed. The key mechanism adds a $10 fee per recipient for the mailing cost, which is included in the total taxes due. The bill also specifies that notices must be sent to owners of record, occupants, and those with written requests on file, in addition to current publication requirements. This change aims to improve transparency before tax sales occur.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 53 requires West Virginia county school boards to publish an annual list of unused public buildings (such as closed or unoccupied school facilities) on a public website. This allows public charter schools to request and lease these buildings for classroom use, provided the buildings are not currently used for instruction. The bill ensures county boards cannot sell or block a building once a charter school requests it, and gives schools up to two years to secure approval and complete necessary renovations. Charter schools must pay market-rate rent and cover all operating costs (including utilities, maintenance, and repairs) during the lease. If a charter school's application is denied, the county board is not obligated to hold the building for future requests.

Maddy summarySB 163 requires West Virginia state agencies to prepare and submit economic impact statements when proposing certain new legislative rules. These statements must analyze potential costs to the public, including regulatory expenses, business competitiveness, job creation, private investment, and economic growth. The bill applies specifically to "legislative rules" (rules with legal force or that affect rights, privileges, or liabilities), not to interpretive or procedural rules. Agencies must include this analysis as part of the rulemaking process before rules take effect, directly affecting how state agencies develop regulations and indirectly impacting businesses and residents who comply with those rules.

Maddy summarySB 7 increases West Virginia's homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $40,000, reducing tax bills for eligible primary homeowners. It applies to residents aged 65 or older, or those certified as permanently and totally disabled, who meet residency requirements (such as living in the state for two consecutive years). The exemption is applied as a direct deduction from a home's assessed value, meaning no property tax is due on the first $40,000 of a home's value. The bill also updates residency rules to include exceptions for military service members and returning residents within five years.

Maddy summarySB 40 (Providing veterinarian and veterinary technician reciprocity) allows licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians from other U.S. states to practice in West Virginia without repeating full licensing requirements, provided they hold an active, good-standing license in their home state for at least five years. The bill amends West Virginia law to permit the Board of Veterinary Medicine to issue licenses based on reciprocity, requiring applicants to submit proof of continuous good standing and no disciplinary actions. It directly affects licensed veterinary professionals seeking to work across state lines without re-taking exams or completing additional training. The bill does not change existing licensing standards for new applicants but streamlines practice for those already qualified in other states.

Maddy summarySB 490 prohibits the use of ranked-choice voting in all West Virginia elections, including local, state, and federal races. The law directly affects voters and election officials by banning this voting method statewide, replacing it with traditional single-choice voting. It amends election law to explicitly prohibit ranked-choice voting procedures, effective August 8, 2025, after being signed by the governor on March 18, 2025. This change applies to all elections held under West Virginia law moving forward.

Maddy summarySB 738 ends the Employee Suggestion Award Board, a state entity that managed programs for employee suggestions in state agencies. The law directly affects state agencies that previously operated this board and employees who participated in suggestion award programs. It terminates the board by removing it from state law, eliminating the requirement for agencies to maintain or administer such programs. The bill became law on August 8, 2025, after being approved by the governor on April 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 154 prohibits public schools from teaching about sexual orientation as part of their curriculum. The law directly affects public school students and educators in the state where it passed, banning instruction on sexual orientation in classrooms. Key provisions require schools to remove any content related to sexual orientation from required lessons. This law became effective on April 30, 2025, after being approved by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 1 requires utility companies and local governments to coordinate utility work (like installing pipes or wires) with road paving projects. This directly affects utility providers and municipalities managing road construction. The law mandates that these entities hold joint planning meetings before starting work to avoid repeated road excavations. As a result, it reduces disruptions like multiple road cuts in the same area and saves public funds. The bill became law on April 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 10 exempts specific meat processing activities from state sales tax, directly affecting meat processors who handle certain types of meat (like grinding or curing). The bill removes the tax requirement for these defined processes, making them tax-free under current law. This is a procedural tax exemption change with no new fees or requirements for businesses.