Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summarySB 759 removes immunization requirements for individuals seeking to become kinship, foster, or adoptive parents in West Virginia. It prohibits requiring immunization records or using immunization status as a factor in child placement decisions for these parents and their households. The bill ensures that neither vaccination status nor lack of records can block a parent’s eligibility for foster, adoptive, or kinship care. It applies specifically to the state’s child welfare system when determining placement suitability. This change directly affects prospective caregivers and the Department of Health and Human Resources in their placement evaluations.

Maddy summarySB 594 allows West Virginia patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access personalized investigational treatments (like gene therapies or vaccines tailored to their genetics) when all FDA-approved options have been exhausted. It requires written consent from the patient (or guardian) and a treating physician's attestation confirming other treatments are unlikely to prolong life, along with detailed risk disclosures. The bill prohibits health care providers from facing sanctions for offering such treatments, prevents debt collection from estates after a patient's death related to these treatments, and clarifies that health insurance plans aren't obligated to cover costs. It directly affects terminally ill patients, their physicians, and manufacturers of individualized treatments, while ensuring no changes to existing clinical trial coverage obligations.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 28 designates March 14, 2025, as West Virginia State University Day at the West Virginia Legislature. The resolution recognizes the university’s history as a public historically Black college (HBCU) founded in 1891, its role as a land-grant institution, and its contributions to education and economic development across West Virginia. As a ceremonial resolution with no policy changes, it serves only to formally acknowledge the university’s legacy and impact on the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates March 13, 2025, as "Wear Red Day" at the state Capitol building. It does not create new laws or obligations but symbolically encourages Capitol staff and visitors to wear red to raise awareness about heart health and cardiac arrest prevention. The resolution cites statistics on cardiac arrest survival rates and references the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign to highlight the importance of CPR and AED training. It directs the Capitol Clerk to send a copy to the American Heart Association. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no binding policy impact beyond the symbolic designation.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 26 designates March 13, 2025, as "National K9 Veterans Day" to honor military working dogs and their handlers, recognizing their service since the inception of the U.S. War Dog Program on March 13, 1942. The resolution acknowledges the historical contributions of military K9s during WWII and beyond, as well as their ongoing roles in police, fire, and search-and-rescue operations. It is a symbolic gesture with no policy changes or direct impact on regulations or funding. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 13, 2025, and directs the Clerk to forward a copy to the War Dog Guardians organization.

Maddy summarySB 749 updates West Virginia's public charter school laws to clarify governance, funding, and student enrollment rules. It prohibits charter schools from charging full tuition (allowing only standard fees for activities or part-time programs), authorizes new "high-risk population" charters for students like those in juvenile justice or with severe disciplinary issues, and requires county school districts to track students returning to district schools after leaving a charter. The bill also allows unlicensed teachers to proctor state tests, permits charter boards to remove members via vote, and enables partnerships with learning pods and virtual microschools operated by colleges. These changes directly affect charter schools, their students (including high-risk populations), and county school districts managing student transfers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia tax and agriculture codes to clarify that solar generation facilities are not considered "farming" for property tax valuation or agricultural classification purposes. Specifically, it removes solar farms from definitions of "farm property" and "agricultural operation" if they produce commercially sold electricity or are used beyond supporting farm residences or farming activities. The change applies to any acreage using solar facilities for non-farming purposes, though farms retain their classification if solar panels are installed only on farm buildings like barns or residences. This directly affects property tax assessments for solar farm operators and ensures solar development isn't classified under agricultural land use rules.

Maddy summarySB 21 requires operators of wind power projects in West Virginia to pay a wildlife impact fee if their wind turbines injure or kill protected birds (like eagles, hawks, and bats) or bats. The fee, paid to the Division of Natural Resources, funds the Wildlife Endowment Fund for conservation efforts such as habitat management and education. The bill explicitly states that such wildlife injuries or deaths do not constitute criminal violations under state law. It defines "wind turbine and tower and related components" broadly to cover all parts of wind projects posing collision risks to wildlife.

Maddy summarySB 618 changes how farm property is valued for West Virginia property taxes, allowing reduced tax assessments for qualifying farmland. It requires the Tax Commissioner to appraise farm property based on its value for farming use (considering expected rental income) rather than its potential non-farming value. This applies to farmers and corporate landowners who annually produce at least $20,000 in agricultural products, regardless of whether farming is their primary business. The bill directly affects property owners who meet this threshold, potentially lowering their tax burden by aligning assessments with agricultural productivity.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates March 12, 2025, as "West Virginia Tourism Day" at the Legislature. It recognizes tourism's economic impact - highlighting that the industry generated $8.7 billion in economic activity, supported 60,000 jobs, and contributed $1 billion in annual tax revenue in 2024 - without creating new policies or requirements. The resolution encourages all West Virginians to explore the state's tourism offerings but has no binding effect on government actions or business regulations. As a ceremonial resolution, it serves to acknowledge the industry's contributions rather than enact policy changes.