Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summarySB 671, the "By-Right Housing Development Act," streamlines housing approvals in West Virginia by requiring local governments to automatically approve qualifying projects - such as single-family homes, apartment buildings, and secondary dwelling units (ADUs) - if they meet existing zoning rules, eliminating discretionary reviews by planning commissions or zoning boards. This directly affects developers and homeowners seeking to build new housing, aiming to accelerate construction to address statewide housing shortages. Local authorities must monitor compliance, with penalties like fines for violations, but the bill explicitly preserves homeowners' association rules and covenants. The act also establishes a clear court process for appealing denied permits, requiring courts to review decisions de novo and potentially award attorney fees to successful applicants.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 676 allows veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed in good standing in other U.S. states with equivalent requirements to practice in West Virginia without retaking exams or meeting all local licensing conditions. It requires applicants to have held an active license for five years in another state and provide documentation confirming no disciplinary actions. The bill directly affects licensed veterinary professionals seeking to work across state lines by simplifying their path to West Virginia licensure.

Maddy summarySB 688, the "Responsible Use of Facial Recognition Act," prohibits West Virginia law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition, real-time security monitoring, drones, license plate readers, and other specified surveillance technologies without a warrant based on probable cause. The bill requires that any facial recognition technology used must be developed and manufactured exclusively in the United States to address national security concerns about foreign technology providers. It establishes a working group within the Department of Homeland Security to create model policies for the responsible use of these technologies. The bill directly affects all law enforcement agencies in West Virginia and aims to strengthen Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches.

Maddy summarySB 674 allows West Virginia students to use the Classical Learning Test (CLT) as an alternative to the ACT or SAT for college admissions and financial aid eligibility. Public colleges must accept CLT scores for admission, and students need a minimum score of 19 (or equivalent) on the CLT, ACT, or SAT to qualify for financial aid. The bill requires high schools to offer the CLT, ACT, or SAT to students in grades 9-12 and the CLT10 or PSAT to students in grades 9-10. School districts may seek reimbursement for related testing fees. This directly affects West Virginia public school students and higher education institutions.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 675 requires hospitals and clinics participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program (called "340B covered entities") to annually report detailed financial data to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy by April 1. This includes costs for drugs purchased under the program, payments received from insurers, payments to contracted pharmacies, and how savings are used for charity care or community health services. The data must be reported by payer type (commercial, Medicaid, Medicare), remains confidential, and the Board must then compile and publish an annual summary by November 15 for state lawmakers and the public. The bill aims to increase transparency about how 340B program savings benefit underserved patients.

Maddy summarySB 692 amends West Virginia's PROMISE Scholarship program to include the Classical Learning Test as an acceptable college entrance exam for eligibility, alongside existing tests like the SAT and ACT. This change directly affects West Virginia high school students applying for the PROMISE Scholarship who wish to use the Classical Learning Test scores instead of traditional standardized exams. The bill does not alter other requirements, such as maintaining a 3.0 GPA, completing 20 hours of community service, or meeting citizenship criteria. The amendment applies to all PROMISE Scholarship applicants under the program's existing framework.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 672 requires K-12 public school students in West Virginia to store personal cell phones in a secure container (like a lockbox) during instructional time. This applies to all students in public schools (excluding certain charter schools) and directly affects their daily classroom experience. Exceptions include medical needs (e.g., diabetes management), teacher-approved educational use, emergency service roles, IEP requirements, English language learning support, or family communication during class. The bill mandates school boards to adopt clear policies for implementation and parent/student notification.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 3, 2025, as "Future Farmers of America Day" at the West Virginia Legislature. It commemorates the history and ongoing work of the National FFA Organization, which supports agricultural education for students across West Virginia (serving 6,968 members in 91 programs). The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, recognizing FFA's role in developing leadership and agricultural skills since its founding in 1928. It does not change laws or affect any specific groups beyond acknowledging FFA's contributions.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 545 bans seven specific artificial food dyes (Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3) from all meals served in school nutrition programs starting August 1, 2025. The bill directly affects public schools by prohibiting these dyes as ingredients in school-provided meals. It allows schools to sell non-compliant food items during fundraising events held off-campus or at least 30 minutes after school ends. This change aims to remove dyes deemed potentially harmful, focusing on school meal safety without restricting other food sales.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates the first full week in May as Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week. It aims to raise awareness about TD - a condition causing uncontrollable facial or body movements linked to long-term antipsychotic use - among healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers. The resolution emphasizes the importance of early screening and education, noting that many affected individuals remain undiagnosed. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new laws but encourages alignment with clinical guidelines for TD detection and management.