HB 2892 clarifies pedestrian rights and duties on West Virginia roadways. It prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways when sidewalks are available, requires pedestrians to walk facing traffic on the left side of roadways without sidewalks, and bans standing in roadways to solicit rides. The bill also prohibits obstructing traffic with one's body or objects placed in the roadway. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 for repeat offenses within a year. This law directly affects pedestrians using roadways in West Virginia, particularly those walking near traffic or soliciting rides.
SB 85 prohibits the mailing, distribution, prescribing, or dispensing of abortifacients (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It specifically bans sending abortifacients via mail to residents, placing them in commerce for use in the state, prescribing them (even by out-of-state providers), or distributing without a valid prescription. Violations by non-medical professionals carry felony charges with 3-10 year prison sentences, while medical license revocation is possible for licensed providers. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies that threaten a patient's life or major bodily function, as defined in the bill. This directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and anyone involved in distributing abortion-related medications in West Virginia.
HB 3506 sets a new mandatory 7% employee contribution rate for judges of courts of record in West Virginia, effective July 1, 2025. This directly affects current and future judges who participate in the state's judges' retirement system, replacing previous rates that had fluctuated between 6% and 10.5% over time. The bill also establishes a key mechanism where employer contributions to the retirement fund may be suspended if the fund's funding level exceeds 125%, as determined by annual actuarial valuations. The changes aim to standardize contributions while providing a trigger for pausing employer payments during periods of strong fund solvency.
HCR 90 is a concurrent resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 4.5-mile stretch of U.S. 250 in Marshall County (from the WV 891 intersection to the Wetzel County line) as the "Dragon Highway." It directly honors Cameron High School's "Dragons" mascot by requiring two signs: one south of the US 250/WV 891 intersection and another at the Wetzel County line heading north toward Cameron. This is a symbolic naming request with no funding or policy changes, solely recognizing the school's identity. The resolution passed the House on April 1, 2025, and was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.
This concurrent resolution requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways add the phrase "West Virginia - A Purple Heart State" to existing highway welcome signs at the state's entrances. It does not create new laws or affect specific individuals, but symbolically honors veterans who received the Purple Heart medal for combat-related injuries. The resolution expresses the legislature's support for recognizing military service through this commemorative signage.
SB 92, the Glucagon for Schools Act, allows West Virginia schools to maintain a stock supply of undesignated glucagon (not prescribed to a specific student) for emergency use during severe hypoglycemia in students with diabetes. It requires schools to train personnel to recognize and respond to diabetes emergencies, administer glucagon if a student’s prescribed supply is unavailable or expired, and call 911 while notifying parents and healthcare providers after administration. The bill protects school personnel, districts, and administrators from liability when acting in good faith under school policies, and mandates schools to have accessible glucometers (though not strictly required). It directly affects all public, charter, and private K-12 schools in West Virginia with students who have diabetes.
SB 517 requires medical professionals in West Virginia who administer vaccines to report all injuries and side effects to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that these professionals receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill establishes a public reporting mechanism for individuals (including parents) to submit adverse vaccine reactions and requires the Bureau to produce an annual report for the Legislature. This directly affects healthcare providers who give vaccines and aims to improve vaccine safety monitoring through standardized reporting.
SB 553 modifies penalties for minor speeding violations on controlled-access highways and interstates in West Virginia. It specifies that drivers caught speeding 10 mph or less above the limit on these highways will face a maximum fine of $5 plus court costs, instead of the standard $100-$500 fines. This change applies only to highway speed violations (not school zones or other areas) and directly affects drivers who exceed the limit by a small margin. The bill does not alter speed limits but reduces administrative penalties for minor infractions on high-speed roadways.
SB 646 increases the number of days West Virginia county school boards can use alternative instruction methods (like remote assignments) during weather-related or emergency closures from five to ten days per school year. These days count as full instructional days toward the state’s 180-day requirement, directly affecting county boards (which must get state approval for their plans), teachers (who assign work), and students (who receive instruction during closures). The bill also prohibits using non-instructional "out-of-calendar" days to make up for lost instructional time. This change aims to ensure schools meet minimum instructional requirements without requiring in-person attendance on closure days.
SB 934 defines "low-proof spirit alcohol products" as canned beverages containing 0.5% to 15.5% alcohol by volume (31 proof), made by distilling and mixing with ingredients like seltzer, juice, or flavorings. This definition directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and regulators by clarifying which products fall under this specific category under West Virginia's alcohol laws. The bill does not create new sales rules or restrictions but establishes a clear regulatory category for these canned, low-alcohol beverages. It amends existing definitions in the state's alcohol code to distinguish these products from beer, wine, and higher-proof spirits.
SB 718 requires hospitals in West Virginia to publicly disclose detailed financial information on their websites and submit it to the West Virginia Health Care Authority. Specifically, hospitals must publish annual reports within 120 days of their fiscal year-end, including assets, liabilities, income, expenses, profit/loss, ownership details (for shareholders owning >5% stock), and facility fees. The bill applies to most hospitals (excluding nursing homes, state hospitals, and facilities under specific exemptions) and mandates that the Health Care Authority make these reports accessible online. This transparency measure aims to address concerns about rising healthcare costs linked to hospital consolidation, as noted in the bill’s legislative findings.
HB 2978 amends West Virginia's Municipal Bond Commission governance by designating the State Treasurer as chairman and requiring the chairman to appoint the commission's chief administrative officer. The bill mandates the State Treasurer to provide office space and staff support, increases per diem rates for commission members, and requires quarterly financial statements and annual audits. It also permits video conferencing for meetings, allows the commission to enter contracts with financial institutions, and removes obsolete language to modernize operations. These changes directly affect the commission's structure, funding, and administrative processes.
