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SB 153WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Senate Bill 153 requires state and federal background checks for drop-in child-care staff and volunteers

Original title: Requiring background checks at certain drop-in child care services

Last action · January 14, 2026: To Health and Human ResourcesSponsor: Patricia Rucker

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia Senate Bill 153 requires operators of services to perform state and federal background checks on all staff members and volunteers. The legislation amends existing state code regarding child-care facility standards to include these screening mandates for drop-in providers where parents leave children briefly while running errands or attending recreational activities.

Why it matters

providers across West Virginia must conduct mandatory state and federal background screening for every staff member and volunteer, altering daily operational requirements for businesses offering brief, non-employment-related child care.

Background

West Virginia Senate Bill 153 was introduced during the 2026 regular legislative session by Senator Rucker. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Drop-in child-care service operators

Drop-in child-care operators must perform state and federal background checks on all staff and volunteers.

Directly affected

Volunteers and staff at drop-in child-care facilities

Staff and volunteers are subject to mandatory state and federal background checks.

Indirectly affected

Parents utilizing drop-in child care

Parents utilize drop-in child care where staff and volunteers undergo mandatory background screening.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered drop-in child care under this bill?

Drop-in child care is defined as an arrangement where care is provided while parents participate in activities that are not employment-related, and where the parents are on the premises or otherwise easily accessible.

Are all child-care providers subject to these rules?

No, the statute outlines several exemptions, including certain public and private schools operating programs under four hours per day, summer recreation camps under 30 days, medical facilities, family day care for relatives only, and specific out-of-school time programs.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 14, 2026SenateCommittee
To Health and Human Resources
Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Jan 14, 2026SenateCommittee
To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary
Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Related Legislation

State Bill

Ohio Senate Bill 153 requires citizenship verification before voting and modifies voter registration, roll maintenance, absent voting, and petition procedures

Ohio Senate Bill 153 requires verification of an elector's United States citizenship before an individual may cast a regular ballot, establishing that

Connected Entities

Patricia Rucker, West Virginia Legislature, Policy 2330 and 2 more

PersonPatricia Rucker“The Senator who introduced Senate Bill 153.”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“The legislative body introducing and passing the bill.”Map →

otherPolicy 2330“Department of Education policy recognizing private, parochial, or church schools”Map →

OrganizationDivision of Corrections and Rehabilitation“Operates juvenile detention or correctional facilities exempt from child-care li”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Department of Education“State agency referenced regarding school programs, accreditations, and out-of-sc”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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