Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summaryThis bill requires West Virginia's Medicaid program and the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) to cover doula services for eligible individuals. It defines a doula as a non-medical professional providing continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period (from confirmed conception through 365 days after delivery). The law mandates minimum visit requirements for prenatal and postpartum care, establishes specific billing protocols, and requires the Department of Human Services to submit a state plan amendment by a set deadline to implement this coverage. It directly affects low-income pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid or PEIA who would now have access to doula support as part of their maternity benefits.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 44) honoring basketball legend Jerry West, a native of West Virginia. It memorializes his life and legacy, recognizing his birth in Chelyan, West Virginia; his high school and college career at West Virginia University; his NBA playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers; and his contributions to basketball as a player, coach, and executive. The resolution also acknowledges his philanthropy, including the Jerry West Scholarship for WVU students. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal tribute expressing the Senate's respect and extending sympathy to his family.

Maddy summarySB 593 requires counties using West Virginia's Express Vote electronic voting system to capture and preserve images of each ballot cast, along with a summary of votes (cast vote record), without including voter names or other personal details. County election officials must send these records to the Secretary of State within 24 hours after election canvass concludes. The Secretary of State must then publish the data online by precinct and county, with special privacy protections for precincts having fewer than 10 absentee, provisional, or challenged ballots to prevent voter identification. This law directly affects county election offices, the Secretary of State, and ensures public access to election data while safeguarding voter anonymity.

Maddy summarySB 569 requires contractors building new single-family homes in West Virginia to include a mandatory 1-year warranty in all purchase or construction contracts. This warranty guarantees work meets building codes, uses defect-free materials, and covers repairs for specific systems like foundations, roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems during the warranty period. The bill prohibits contractors from excluding implied warranties, limiting remedies, or requiring arbitration more than 50 miles from the home, and mandates that dispute resolution terms be clearly visible in contracts. It directly affects homeowners purchasing new single-family residences and contractors building them, ensuring basic protections for buyers.

Maddy summarySJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all voters in West Virginia elections to be U.S. citizens. The amendment would add language to the state constitution stating: "Only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States shall be entitled to vote at all elections." This would codify the existing requirement that voters must be U.S. citizens, which is already enforced under current law. The proposal must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates April 3, 2025, as "Women and Girls’ Day" at the West Virginia Legislature. It symbolically recognizes the contributions of women and girls across West Virginia through the West Virginia Women’s Commission’s annual events and policy focus. The resolution expresses the Senate’s appreciation for women’s roles in the state’s economy, families, communities, and society. As a ceremonial measure, it does not create new laws, funding, or obligations.

Maddy summarySB 848 (Enacting bank protections for eligible adults from financial exploitation) protects vulnerable adults by giving banks, broker-dealers, and investment advisors new tools to prevent financial exploitation. It applies to adults aged 65+ or those with significant mental impairments affecting financial decision-making, or adults with court-appointed guardians. The law allows financial institutions to delay, refuse, or stop transactions they believe risk harming an eligible adult, and requires them to report suspected exploitation to state agencies like the West Virginia Department of Human Services. It explicitly states that institutions acting in good faith cannot be sued for these interventions.

Maddy summarySB 85 prohibits the mailing, distribution, prescribing, or dispensing of abortifacients (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It specifically bans sending abortifacients via mail to residents, placing them in commerce for use in the state, prescribing them (even by out-of-state providers), or distributing without a valid prescription. Violations by non-medical professionals carry felony charges with 3-10 year prison sentences, while medical license revocation is possible for licensed providers. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies that threaten a patient's life or major bodily function, as defined in the bill. This directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and anyone involved in distributing abortion-related medications in West Virginia.

Maddy summarySB 92, the Glucagon for Schools Act, allows West Virginia schools to maintain a stock supply of undesignated glucagon (not prescribed to a specific student) for emergency use during severe hypoglycemia in students with diabetes. It requires schools to train personnel to recognize and respond to diabetes emergencies, administer glucagon if a student’s prescribed supply is unavailable or expired, and call 911 while notifying parents and healthcare providers after administration. The bill protects school personnel, districts, and administrators from liability when acting in good faith under school policies, and mandates schools to have accessible glucometers (though not strictly required). It directly affects all public, charter, and private K-12 schools in West Virginia with students who have diabetes.

Maddy summarySB 517 requires medical professionals in West Virginia who administer vaccines to report all injuries and side effects to the 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 establishes a public reporting mechanism for individuals (including parents) to submit adverse vaccine reactions and requires the Bureau to produce an annual report for the Legislature. This directly affects healthcare providers who give vaccines and aims to improve vaccine safety monitoring through standardized reporting.