Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education
This bill requires physicians and osteopathic doctors in West Virginia to complete continuing education credits specifically in nutrition as part of their biennial license renewal process. The law mandates that medical professionals earn a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical education every two years, with osteopathic physicians required to complete thirty-two hours including nutrition training, and these credits must be approved by relevant medical boards. The bill amends existing state code sections to make nutrition education a mandatory component of the continuing education requirement for license renewal.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Jan 29, 2026
Signed Jun 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
hb4951 sfa takubo _ 3-9 adopted.htm
→
Enrolled Version
·
5 edits
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Mar 30, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was finalized into its Enrolled Version, incorporating amendments proposed by Senator Takubo that mandate nutrition education for medical and osteopathic licensees. The final text establishes specific continuing education requirements, including a new mandate for nutrition training for both new and existing licensees, while also updating the standard CME hours and structure for renewal.
Scope change
The scope was expanded to explicitly include a mandatory nutrition education component for all physicians and osteopathic physicians renewing their licenses, regardless of when they were originally licensed.
REQUIREMENT
Added a mandatory requirement for all licensees to complete continuing education in nutrition as set by the board.
Changed the standard continuing medical education requirement from 32 hours to 50 hours for physicians and podiatrists.
Modified the osteopathic physician requirement to specify that 50% of the 32 required hours must be Category I training approved by the American Osteopathic Association.
TIMELINE
Established a July 1, 2007, effective date for stricter enforcement of automatic license expiration due to failure to complete continuing education.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of acceptable continuing medical education to specifically include Category I designations from the American Medical Association or Academy of Family Physicians.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026
How they voted
33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Mar 10, 2026
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
40
Key actions
9
Committee
3
Mar 30, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate receded and passed (Roll No. 688)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 405)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Floor amendments adopted (Voice vote)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass, with amendments
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
To Health and Human Resources
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 42)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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