HB 4626 establishes a West Virginia grant program to fund U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug development trials using ibogaine, a substance being studied for treating opioid use disorder and other neurological/mental health conditions. The program requires applicants (e.g., pharmaceutical companies or research organizations) to demonstrate capacity to conduct FDA trials, secure approval for ibogaine as a medication, and commit to establishing a state presence, securing insurance coverage, and ensuring treatment access for uninsured patients. Applicants must submit detailed trial designs, safety protocols, and plans for intellectual property rights and post-approval implementation, with grants administered through a state selection committee. The bill does not approve ibogaine but aims to accelerate its development pathway through state-funded trials.
SB 705 creates a new criminal offense called "theft by conversion" in West Virginia, targeting individuals who unlawfully use funds or property they were entrusted with under an agreement. It directly affects people handling others' assets (like rental companies, contractors, or anyone with a legal obligation to manage property), such as leased equipment or payments. The bill sets penalties: misdemeanors for amounts under $2,500 (up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine), and felonies for $2,500 or more (1-10 years in prison or fines up to $2,500). It requires courts to order restitution to victims and specifies where cases can be prosecuted (e.g., defendant’s, victim’s, or property location county). The law applies to property valued over $100, excluding late fees.
SB 744 updates West Virginia's Critical Incident Review Team (CIRT) procedures for reviewing child fatalities and near-fatalities in the child welfare system. It requires the Department of Human Services to notify the Inspector General within 24 hours of such incidents to convene the CIRT, and shifts the team's chairmanship from the Bureau for Social Services Commissioner to the Foster Care Ombudsman. The bill also mandates that the Commissioner or their designee serve as a CIRT member and requires the child welfare data dashboard to display fatality/near-fatality data within 48 hours, including links to final CIRT reports. These changes clarify the CIRT's structure under the Inspector General's office and improve data transparency for public reporting.
SB 697 regulates access points to West Virginia state highways for commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties. It requires new access points to get approval from the Commissioner of Highways before opening, while automatically treating existing entrances (established before July 1, 2016) as legally valid unless safety hazards are identified. The bill mandates safety reviews for existing entrances if accident reports or traffic surveys show significant risks, allowing the Commissioner to order changes at state expense. It also requires "no parking" signage or yellow markings for wide entrances (>50 feet) on highways with speed limits over 45 mph, applying to both pre-2016 and newer access points. This directly affects landowners, businesses, and rural operations relying on highway access.
West Virginia's SB 558 strengthens penalties for drivers who pass a stopped school bus with activated stop arms and red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It creates new aggravated offenses: causing serious injury becomes a felony with 1-3 years in jail and $2,000-$5,000 fines, while causing death becomes a felony with 1-10 years in jail and $5,000-$10,000 fines. Repeat violations now trigger mandatory jail time (48 hours for third offenses), longer license suspensions (up to one year), and require completion of a driver safety course. The bill also allows civil stop-arm camera enforcement, holds vehicle owners liable for violations, and dedicates collected fines to school bus safety initiatives.
SB 649 requires West Virginia Medicaid to cover home blood pressure monitoring devices for specific enrollees: pregnant individuals or those within 12 months postpartum who have been diagnosed with uncontrolled hypertension. The bill mandates that covered devices must be validated by the U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Listing and includes coverage for an extra blood pressure cuff. Medicaid providers must also receive reimbursement for related services, such as patient training, interpreting readings, and delivering co-interventions. This policy directly affects Medicaid recipients with hypertension during pregnancy or postpartum, expanding access to essential monitoring tools.
SB 672 amends West Virginia law to expand the list of violations that could lead to real estate license suspension or revocation by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission. Key provisions require brokers to disclose financial incentives received from lenders (e.g., rebates for steering clients to specific institutions) and to reveal if they personally purchase properties they are selling. This directly affects licensed real estate agents and brokers, who may face disciplinary action for these specific failures to disclose. The bill clarifies existing rules without creating new penalties, focusing on transparency in transactions.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the effects of using voluntary separation and irreconcilable differences as grounds for divorce in West Virginia. The study will examine how these divorce grounds impact children's academic performance and mental health, as well as adults' reliance on state assistance and mental well-being. It will also analyze how much court funding is used for these specific divorce cases and review similar policies in other states. The committee is asked to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature in 2027, with study costs covered by legislative appropriations.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to investigate the reasons behind the decline of eastern gray fox populations in West Virginia and develop strategies to stabilize and increase their numbers. The bill directs the committee to study ecological factors, economic impacts on trappers, and potential causes for the population decrease since the early 2000s. The committee must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the 2027 regular session, including any proposed legislation needed to address the issue. Funding for the study, report preparation, and potential legislation drafting will come from existing legislative appropriations to the committee.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study how state and local funds are spent by county school boards under the Public School Support Program. The study will examine spending patterns, enrollment changes, and staffing costs to determine if a new School Finance Transparency Commission is needed to improve financial reporting and public understanding of education funding. The committee must submit its findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 31, 2026, with any proposed legislation to be reported to the 2027 legislative session. This measure does not change current funding laws but instead initiates a review process to inform potential future policy adjustments.
This bill asks a state legislative committee to study whether West Virginia should offer cost-of-living adjustments to public school teachers, school service staff, and state police officers. The study would examine the financial costs, implementation options, and potential effects on salaries and staffing for these groups. It requires the committee to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature in 2027, with the cost of the study paid from existing legislative funds.
This Senate resolution formally recognizes the dedicated public service of Honorable Michael Andrew Woelfel, a former West Virginia State Senator. The bill honors his career as a prosecutor, juvenile court referee, university professor, and legislator who served three consecutive terms in the Senate. It expresses the Senate's appreciation for his contributions to West Virginia citizens and directs the Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Woelfel. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or budgetary impact.
