HB 5103 requires the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification to inspect office-based medication-assisted treatment programs (which provide opioid addiction treatment using medication) at least once every 24 months. These inspections must include reviewing patient records to ensure compliance with licensing rules and may involve a pharmacist and law enforcement officer. The bill mandates formal inspections every two years, in addition to unannounced complaint inspections already allowed. It directly affects opioid treatment programs operating in medical offices across West Virginia.
HCR 18 is a symbolic concurrent resolution passed by the West Virginia legislature declaring that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is conducting an "illegal, asymmetric war" against the U.S. and West Virginia. It claims China uses "unconventional means" including fentanyl, engineered diseases, cyberattacks, and influence operations, and directs state officials to identify PRC-affiliated entities holding public debt since 2019 for debt forgiveness. The resolution invites other states to adopt similar declarations and urges coordinated state action against China. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws or alter policy but serves as a formal statement of legislative position.
HB 5427, the "Anti-Doxxing and Privacy Protection Act," prohibits publishing another person's personally identifiable information (PII) without consent when intending to harass, threaten, stalk, or cause harm. It directly affects individuals who engage in malicious doxxing (e.g., sharing home addresses, phone numbers, or location data to intimidate) and protects victims, including public officials, healthcare workers, and private citizens. Key provisions establish criminal penalties for violations, allow civil lawsuits for victims, and create procedures for redacting PII from public records when safety is at risk. The bill explicitly excludes lawful public records disclosures, judicial proceedings, and good-faith journalism to preserve constitutional protections.
HB 5387 amends West Virginia's high school graduation requirements by removing a mandatory stand-alone computer science course. Instead, it establishes a computer literacy proficiency requirement that students must meet to graduate. The bill restores local flexibility for school districts to determine how to implement this requirement while preserving advanced computer science pathways. This change directly affects all West Virginia high school students by altering one of their required graduation courses.
HB 5388 creates a tax credit for independently owned West Virginia businesses participating in the official motorist services logo signing program. The bill allows eligible businesses to claim a credit equal to 100% of the fees paid to the West Virginia Division of Highways for program signage, directly reducing their state tax liability. To qualify, businesses must be locally owned (51% West Virginia-domiciled owners), operate fewer than five locations in the state, and not be bound by national branding requirements. The credit applies only to official program fees, excludes private advertising costs, and is nontransferable. This policy aims to lower costs for small, rural businesses along transportation corridors that provide traveler services.
HB 5419 amends West Virginia law to include search and rescue dogs from community groups under the West Virginia Emergency Management Search and Rescue Program in the definition of "law-enforcement officer" while they are actively working with human officers or search and rescue members. This change allows community search and rescue members to use reasonable force to protect these dogs, similar to how they would defend a human officer. The bill clarifies that the dogs are not state employees and do not receive employee protections or administrative status. The legislation aims to provide legal safeguards for these animals during their operational duties.
This bill requires West Virginia election officials to capture and publish digital images of ballots cast in statewide elections, along with cast vote records, to enable public verification of election results. It mandates that each printed ballot include a unique number and a designated space for voters to voluntarily mark their ballot with a personal identifier using ink, without denying acceptance of ballots based on the presence or absence of such marks. The Secretary of State must publish these records and images within 24 hours of receiving them from counties, while implementing privacy protections that prevent individual voter identification in precincts with fewer than 10 absentee or provisional ballots.
This bill removes time limits for workers to file or modify claims related to progressive massive fibrosis, a lung disease often linked to occupational exposure (like mining). It directly affects workers who develop this condition, allowing them to pursue or adjust compensation claims without being barred by past deadlines. The bill amends West Virginia's workers' compensation code to eliminate statute of limitations barriers specifically for these claims and adds a new impairment rating for progressive massive fibrosis. This change ensures affected workers can access benefits regardless of when symptoms first appeared or worsened.
HB 5058 requires restaurants in West Virginia to clearly label any menu item containing or made from "analogue products," "cell-cultured products," or "food products" (as defined in state law) with specific terms. This directly affects restaurants serving lab-grown or lab-made food alternatives, such as cultivated meat or plant-based substitutes. The key provision mandates that these labels appear prominently on all menus to inform consumers about the product type before purchase. The bill aims to ensure transparency for dining choices without specifying how restaurants must implement the labeling. It does not change food safety standards or restrict the sale of these products.
HB 5409 clarifies that water and minerals in dissolved or undissolved form within produced liquids and solids from oil and gas drilling belong to the landowner or mineral rights holder, not the drilling operator. The bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly define "produced liquids and solids" to include these materials, resolving ambiguity about ownership of byproducts from drilling operations. This directly affects landowners, mineral rights holders, and oil/gas operators by establishing clear ownership rights to these substances. The legislation aims to prevent disputes over ownership of naturally occurring minerals and water in drilling byproducts.
SB 501 requires the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) to expand digital mapping of secondary and backroads for all counties that apply. Counties must submit standardized applications to have their scenic, historic, and recreational backroads mapped, with roads classified by surface type (paved, gravel, dirt) and marked for 4x4 vehicle use where needed. The WVDOH will create a public mobile app and interactive map showing these classifications, allowing travelers to view route details and user-added notes (moderated by counties). Funding comes from the WVDOH tourism and infrastructure budget, with annual reports to the Legislature on participation and tourism impact. This directly affects counties seeking tourism promotion and travelers navigating rural roads.
HB 5348 prohibits pedestrians from standing in roadways or on the right-of-way in West Virginia. It directly affects pedestrians who stand in or near roadways, creating a public safety hazard for both themselves and motorists. The bill establishes fines for violations: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within one year, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. This law aims to reduce roadway hazards by making pedestrian standing in traffic areas a misdemeanor.
