HB 4299 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Optometry to adopt a specific regulatory rule (14 CSR 01) that was previously filed and modified following review by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. This bill directly affects optometrists and optometry practices in West Virginia by allowing the Board to implement the approved rule without further legislative action. The key mechanism is the formal authorization of an existing regulatory rule that already underwent the required procedural steps, including committee review and refiling. The bill does not change the content of the rule but ensures its official adoption under state regulations.
HB 4757 (West Virginia, 2026) prohibits requiring patients to receive, be administered, or disclose medical treatment history unless the manufacturer of the medical product is liable for death or serious injury caused by it. The bill directly affects patients and healthcare providers by blocking mandatory treatments or disclosure of medical product use, applying to all medical devices, drugs, and biologics. Its key mechanism requires manufacturer liability as a condition before any medical product use or disclosure can be mandated. The bill aims to establish privacy rights around medical treatments but does not create new penalties or enforcement procedures.
SB 286 authorizes the West Virginia State Police to implement a specific grievance procedure rule (81 CSR 08) that was previously modified to address concerns raised by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The bill does not create new policies but formally approves an existing rule governing how state police members can file and resolve workplace grievances. This directly affects West Virginia State Police officers who would use this procedure for disputes related to employment. The rule was refiled after adjustments and is now officially authorized under state law.
HB 4746, the First Amendment Preservation Act, prohibits West Virginia state agencies from entering contracts with advertising or marketing firms that use media monitoring organizations to rate news sources for bias or misinformation. It requires all companies bidding for state advertising contracts to provide written certification they comply with this rule, and mandates agencies to obtain such certification before renewing existing contracts. The law specifically targets firms that assess content accuracy or bias (like fact-checkers), but excludes those measuring audience size or compiling news clippings. It applies to all state contracts executed on or after July 1, 2026, affecting state departments, universities using state funds, and advertising agencies seeking state business.
HB 4748 creates a digital wallet within West Virginia's Secretary of State business portal, allowing residents to store and organize their learning records (like degrees), employment history, certifications, and professional licenses. Individuals must upload and verify their own records; the Secretary of State will provide the secure platform by January 1, 2027, and contractors handling the system must safeguard data and cannot sell or share it. The digital wallet’s contents are exempt from public records requests under West Virginia law, and users can request secure deletion of their information.
HB 4718, the Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act, requires nonresident commercial truck drivers operating in West Virginia to present a valid work visa and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport) while driving. It also mandates that drivers demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete required records. Commercial motor carriers face $3,000 fines per violation if their drivers fail to meet these requirements, while drivers operating without compliance risk a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The bill additionally allows the state to adopt the FMCSA's Even Exchange Program, waiving skills tests for military drivers with relevant experience and certain first responders.
HB 4732 requires West Virginia municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - such as guest houses or in-law suites - on single-family properties without special permits (e.g., public hearings or variances). It sets size limits (max 75% of the main house or 1,000 sq ft), prohibits municipalities from requiring extra parking, design matching, occupancy rules, or impact fees, and mandates that at least 35% of residential lots permit ADUs. Municipalities must adopt compliant zoning by January 1, 2027, or follow these rules until they do, with existing non-compliant rules becoming void. This directly affects homeowners seeking to add ADUs and municipalities managing local zoning regulations.
HB 4737 authorizes West Virginia municipalities to enforce stairway safety standards in apartment buildings that fail to meet existing building or fire codes. The bill directly affects apartment building owners and local governments by giving cities the authority to regulate unsafe stairways, exits, or egress paths that pose risks like structural damage or inadequate means of escape. Key provisions clarify that municipalities can adopt ordinances requiring repairs or improvements for stairways that are warped, worn, or non-compliant with safety standards, without changing the underlying code requirements. This is a procedural update to existing law, not a new safety standard, and applies to apartment buildings deemed unsafe under current regulations.
HB 4736 would repeal a section of West Virginia law (§60-2-17b) that established the Wine and Liquor Operations Fund and required an operations fee from alcohol businesses. This bill directly affects wine and liquor license holders who currently pay this fee, removing their obligation to do so under the repealed law. The bill makes no new policy changes but eliminates an existing fee structure.
This bill authorizes West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to implement a specific rule (91 CSR 13) governing compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance. It directly affects all drivers in West Virginia who are required to carry liability insurance coverage. The rule sets clear requirements for the minimum insurance coverage drivers must maintain, including details on coverage limits and documentation. The bill itself does not change the insurance requirements but formally approves the DMV's existing rule for enforcement.
HB 4739, the Junk Fee Prevention Act, prohibits businesses from hiding mandatory fees that inflate prices for consumers. It requires businesses to display the total price - including all mandatory fees - clearly before purchase, and bans practices like adding unexpected fees after a product is selected or misrepresenting subtotals. The law directly affects consumers buying goods/services (like banking, travel, or rentals) and businesses that charge hidden fees, aiming to prevent deceptive pricing that obscures true costs. Key provisions include mandating upfront total pricing and banning excessive early termination fees.
HB 4724 caps annual out-of-pocket costs for specific therapy services at $500 per year for West Virginia residents diagnosed with a terminal illness (an incurable condition likely leading to death). It applies to licensed occupational, speech-language, and physical therapy services, requiring insurers to limit copays for these services to no more than the amount charged for primary care physician visits or $500 annually - whichever is lower. The cap applies to all covered therapy services until the patient's death, as defined in the bill. This policy directly affects terminally ill patients who rely on these therapies, ensuring their out-of-pocket costs do not exceed the specified annual limit.
