House Bill 5147 would require the full text of proposed constitutional amendments to be printed on official ballots in West Virginia elections, replacing the current requirement that only includes a title and summary. This change would add the complete wording of each amendment - such as any struck-through or underlined language - to the ballot, allowing voters to review the exact text they are voting on. The bill applies to all constitutional amendment proposals submitted to voters during state elections. Currently, ballots list only a title and summary, so this would provide greater transparency about the specific changes being considered.
This bill establishes mandatory Medicaid program requirements for West Virginia, directly affecting Medicaid enrollees including adults, children, and individuals receiving coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Key provisions include implementing a work requirement by January 1, 2027; prohibiting Medicaid use by undocumented residents starting October 1, 2026; requiring biannual eligibility verification; ending multi-state enrollment; removing deceased members quarterly; reducing error rates to 3% by 2028; and limiting retroactive eligibility to 30-60 days. The bill aligns West Virginia’s Medicaid program with federal requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), mandating the Bureau for Medical Services to seek necessary federal authority to implement these changes. It also requires Medicaid waivers to be budget neutral and amends specific taxes related to managed care and providers.
This is a symbolic House Resolution (not a bill), introduced by multiple West Virginia delegates. It designates the month of June as "Fidelity Month" to promote the values of faith, family, and patriotism across the state. The resolution cites declining support for these values in polling and research, and calls for the state to "rededicate" itself to them during June. It has no binding policy requirements or direct impact on specific groups; it is purely a commemorative gesture.
This West Virginia House resolution states that the U.S. national debt (over $38 trillion in 2026) poses a national security threat, citing foreign debt ownership, projected Social Security/Medicare shortfalls, and warnings from military/intelligence leaders. It urges Congress to establish regular budgeting procedures but does not create new laws or alter federal spending. As a symbolic resolution, it has no direct legal effect on national debt policy or federal budgets. The resolution focuses on raising awareness rather than implementing concrete changes.
HB 5098 creates West Virginia's "Mobile ID Act," establishing a program to provide in-home and long-term care facility visits for state-issued identification cards and driver licenses. It directly affects West Virginia residents with medical conditions or disabilities preventing travel to DMV offices, as verified by a licensed medical provider, and those residing in licensed long-term care facilities. The bill requires the DMV to offer these services with two-person visits for safety, schedule appointments within 30 days of request, and maintain medical certification standards. It does not waive existing ID verification or Real ID requirements but mandates rulemaking for application processes, staffing, fees, and annual reporting starting in 2027.
HB 5082 requires West Virginia correctional facilities, regional jails, and juvenile detention centers to provide free feminine hygiene products (tampons and sanitary napkins) to female inmates and female juveniles upon request, with delivery within eight hours. The bill amends existing laws to explicitly mandate this provision, ensuring no cost to individuals who menstruate while incarcerated. This policy change applies directly to all female individuals in state custody who require these products, addressing a basic health need without financial burden.
HB 5126 clarifies that West Virginia's Lottery Education Fund and Excess Lottery Fund can be directly used to support early childhood education programs for 4-year-olds across the state. The bill requires county school boards to provide these programs, mandating at least 48,000 minutes of instruction annually (or 1,500 minutes weekly) for eligible children. It explicitly authorizes the use of lottery funds for this purpose, removing ambiguity in current funding rules. This policy change directly affects county education programs and ensures dedicated state funding for early childhood education initiatives.
HB 5129 changes the West Virginia Water Development Authority's funding powers by removing its ability to fund infrastructure projects recommended by state secretaries (Commerce, Economic Development, or Tourism). Instead, it creates a new "Economic Enhancement Grant Fund" with two subaccounts: one for matching federal grant requirements and another for specific projects like covering bid overruns, extending water services to boost tourism, or helping water providers merge. The fund can only support projects within West Virginia, directly affecting local governments, nonprofits, and water utilities seeking infrastructure grants. Key provisions require the Authority to use the fund only for approved projects after recommendations from the Infrastructure Council or state secretaries, with strict rules on how funds are distributed and used.
HB 5084 replaces West Virginia's existing non-refundable child tax credit with a new refundable credit. Starting in 2026, eligible West Virginia residents who claim the federal child tax credit for a qualifying child on their federal return will receive a $1,000 state credit per child. If the credit exceeds the resident's state income tax liability, the excess amount is refunded directly to them. This bill directly affects working families with children who qualify for the federal credit, aiming to reduce child poverty and support local economies through a permanent state-level benefit. The bill repeals the current non-refundable credit (§11-21-26) and establishes the new refundable credit under §11-21-98.
Senate Bill 730 requires West Virginia's Bureau for Family Assistance to meet two specific program standards by January 1, 2027: (1) reduce its error rate in processing applications to 6% or below, and (2) block individuals living in the U.S. illegally from receiving supplemental nutrition benefits. The bill directly affects the Bureau’s operations and applicants seeking nutrition assistance. It aims to align the state’s program with federal requirements, as noted in the bill’s purpose statement. The provisions focus on operational accuracy and eligibility verification for nutrition benefits.
HB 5085 requires private residential programs for adolescents with behavioral or emotional challenges to obtain a license from West Virginia’s Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. The bill mandates background checks for all staff with direct contact with youth, prohibits physical discipline or denial of education, and requires programs to report restraints/seclusion within one business day. It also mandates written policies for suicide prevention, allows parents to remove youth or request weekly video calls, and requires programs to publicly post complaint procedures. The law directly affects operators of these residential programs (excluding schools, camps, or faith-based organizations), imposing new licensing, safety, and transparency requirements.
HB 5135 establishes a 12-member Food Waste Task Force within West Virginia's Department of Health to study and recommend ways to reduce food waste across the state. The task force, including representatives from state health, agriculture, and the legislature, along with public advocates, will examine specific strategies like preventing waste, increasing food donations, changing cosmetic standards for produce, and modifying "best by" date labels. It must submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of forming. This bill creates a study group focused on identifying practical solutions, without implementing new laws or regulations itself.
