Sen. Patricia Rucker

Maddy summarySB 1070 authorizes West Virginia's School Building Authority to use existing funds for specific grounds and site improvements that protect school buildings' structural safety and integrity. It allows funding for drainage systems, erosion control, soil stabilization, and related engineering services when needed to prevent foundation damage, flooding, or structural threats - excluding purely aesthetic landscaping or routine maintenance. The bill requires written certification from a licensed engineer confirming that proposed improvements are necessary for building safety before approval. This directly affects public school facilities statewide by enabling proactive, cost-effective protection of school infrastructure. The measure expands the Authority's existing funding powers to address site conditions threatening building safety, with implementation effective 90 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 1076 allows municipalities in West Virginia that currently have police officers and firefighters not enrolled in any state retirement system to choose to join the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System. Municipalities must elect to participate by December 1, 2026, after which all new hires for these roles automatically become members of the system. Existing officers and firefighters hired before January 1, 2027, must choose by March 31, 2027, whether to join the system, but cannot transfer existing retirement credits or participate in other employer retirement plans. This bill does not create new benefits but enables municipalities to opt into an existing retirement system for their public safety employees.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 1073 would align state worker classification rules with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standards for distinguishing between independent contractors and employees. The bill requires written contracts stating the independent contractor status, including acknowledgments that the worker is responsible for their own taxes and benefits, and must file business tax returns or operate through a registered business entity. It also mandates that workers control key aspects of their work (like time, location, and ability to work for multiple clients) and satisfy three of six specific criteria to qualify as an independent contractor. This directly affects businesses hiring workers and the workers themselves, as misclassification could lead to liability under state laws for workers' compensation, unemployment, and wage protections. The bill does not change federal tax treatment but ensures state laws match IRS classifications.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 65 amends West Virginia's Contractor Licensing Act to explicitly exclude drywall installers from the definition of "contractor." Currently, Section 30-42-3(d)(6) already exempts "persons who perform landscaping, drywall installation and related services," but this bill formally clarifies that exemption to prevent ambiguity. The change directly affects drywall installers, who will no longer need a contractor license for their work. This is a procedural clarification of existing law, not a new policy requiring additional licensing or regulation for drywall services.

Maddy summarySCR 4 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the security and integrity of West Virginia elections. The study must examine the practicality and feasibility of implementing single-member Senate districts (currently used for the House of Delegates) and gather input from the Secretary of State, county clerks, and others on technological, financial, security, and timeline considerations. The committee is required to report its findings, conclusions, and any necessary legislation to the 2027 Legislature. This resolution does not change election laws but directs a study to inform future decisions.

Maddy summarySB 1040, the West Virginia Energy Freedom Act, removes the requirement for certain non-utility power generators to obtain a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" before building or operating facilities. It directly affects solar, wind, and other non-utility electric generation projects, requiring them instead to register with the Public Service Commission and comply with environmental, zoning, and grid interconnection rules. The bill streamlines approvals by waiving the certificate process for projects reviewed and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council. It also exempts intermittent power sources (like solar and wind) from the certificate requirement, shifting oversight to registration and standard grid connection protocols.

Maddy summarySB 1051 creates a Charter School Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans specifically for public charter school facility projects (like building or renovating school buildings) in West Virginia. The fund is administered by the Professional Charter School Board, with loan repayments recycled back into the fund to support future projects. The bill requires the Board to establish rules for the fund's operation and mandates that initial loans be distributed during the 2027 fiscal year, pending state appropriations. This directly affects public charter schools seeking facility funding and the Professional Charter School Board as the fund administrator.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 1041 establishes the "Energy Economic Load Dispatch Act," requiring utilities to follow a new cost-based planning standard for power generation projects. It mandates that utilities comply with this standard to obtain or maintain permits for new power plants, include resource adequacy and reliability in their long-term energy plans, and ensure costs for non-compliant projects cannot be passed to customers. The Public Service Commission gains explicit authority to deny approvals, condition permits, or revoke certificates if utilities fail to meet these requirements. This bill directly affects electric utilities and the commission's review process for energy projects, focusing on cost transparency and regulatory oversight.

Maddy summarySB 1050 proposes creating the West Virginia Task Force on Election Integrity to study election security and technology. The task force, composed of officials, cybersecurity experts, county clerks, and citizen members, will research secure and transparent vote tabulation systems - including hand-counting paper ballots - and assess election infrastructure technologies. It must align with federal cybersecurity guidelines and recommend specific changes to West Virginia law for adoption. The bill does not change current election procedures but establishes a process to evaluate and propose improvements to election management systems. (Note: This bill is proposed but not yet enacted.)

Maddy summarySB 1018 clarifies that land used primarily for farming remains eligible for preferential farm property tax classification even if owners or tenants operate minor non-farming business activities (such as agritourism or small retail), provided farming remains the dominant use. This directly affects West Virginia farm owners and tenants who run side ventures without losing their farm tax status. The bill requires the Agriculture Commissioner to establish specific criteria for qualifying land, ensuring farming is the primary purpose and preventing disqualification due to incidental commercial activities. It does not change tax rates but refines the definition to prevent unintended loss of farm classification for properties with limited non-farming operations.