SB 662 creates a pilot program to provide free colorectal cancer screening and treatment in West Virginia for "unserved populations" - individuals with inadequate access to care due to financial constraints. The program, administered by the Bureau for Public Health, awards grants to approved organizations (like clinics or hospitals) to deliver screenings, diagnostic colonoscopies, and treatment at no cost to patients. Covered services include pre-visit consultations, colonoscopy procedures, polyp removal, and pathology, with treatment initiated if cancer is detected. Organizations must meet quality standards, and the program requires annual reporting on metrics like screenings performed, costs, and outcomes to the Legislative Oversight Commission.
HB 4984 modifies West Virginia's prior authorization rules for FDA-approved antipsychotic medications. It requires the Bureau for Medical Services to use an electronic portal for all prior authorization requests, including clear instructions, real-time status updates, and a quarterly updated science-based list of required authorizations. The bill mandates responses within five business days (or two days for urgent cases) and requires clear disclosure about step therapy protocols on forms. This directly affects healthcare providers submitting requests and patients needing these medications, aiming to streamline the approval process for antipsychotics.
HCR 20 designates Gary's water and wastewater systems for emergency state intervention under West Virginia's utility program, directly affecting Gary residents who face aging infrastructure, water quality issues, and financial instability. The resolution requires a state team to conduct an emergency assessment within seven days, classifies the systems as Tier 4 (highest emergency tier), and prioritizes them for up to $3 million in emergency repairs from the Distressed Utilities Account. It mandates monthly progress reports to the legislature and sets a 6-month preliminary evaluation, serving as a pilot for the state's utility intervention program. The resolution does not delay ongoing Public Service Commission ownership proceedings for the systems.
This is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 44), not a legislative bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes and honors the St. Joseph Central Catholic High School Fighting Irish Boys Soccer Team for winning the 2025 State Championship title. The resolution highlights their 23-2 record, championship victory (4-0 over Wheeling Central), and the leadership of players and coaches. It contains no policy mechanisms or changes - it is solely an expression of legislative praise with no binding effect or impact on laws or regulations.
HB 5642 creates the State Utility Accountability and Improvement Program to support water and wastewater utilities in West Virginia, particularly those facing financial or operational challenges. It establishes a State Utility Management Corps to provide direct assistance, authorizes temporary management (conservatorships) for struggling utilities, and creates a Priority Utility Docket for faster public service commission reviews. The bill also expands the Distressed Utilities Account for financial aid, sets up a tiered reclassification system for rate adjustments, and requires annual utility assessments for transparency. These provisions apply directly to public water and wastewater utilities across the state, aiming to improve service reliability and long-term sustainability.
This bill requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services to fix payment delays for child welfare service providers by overhauling the state's payment system. It mandates an invoice-based payment system (replacing current worker-dependent triggers), establishes a dedicated payment resolution process with a high-level contact, and requires monthly meetings between providers and DHS finance staff to address issues proactively. The bill also corrects coding errors in the PATH system that cause underpayment for residential transitional living services and allows providers to update foster family status in real time for accurate billing. These changes aim to ensure timely payments to agencies providing critical child welfare services, preventing financial strain that leads to service cuts or closures.
This bill would allow public schools and charter schools in West Virginia to refuse enrollment to students who are unlawfully present in the United States, provided the student or their parent has exhausted all available legal appeals. The legislation requires schools to verify a student's immigration status through documentation before enrollment, accepting only U.S. citizenship, citizenship applications, or legal visa status as valid proof. By adding a new section to state law, the bill creates an eligibility standard for public school enrollment that differs from current federal precedent, permitting schools to deny access to students with final removal orders without charging tuition.
HB 5646 increases the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to $250 million and allocates $1 million from the Revenue Shortfall Fund to the Disaster Recovery Trust Fund to assist communities affected by 2024-2025 flooding. The bill requires the State Resiliency Office to develop a flood protection plan using at least 6% of federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds. It mandates annual expenditure reports and budget requests to the Resiliency Office Board, enabling the office to begin flood prevention work in vulnerable areas. The legislation directly supports flood-prone communities and state recovery efforts through concrete funding mechanisms.
HB 5659 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services to develop a new cost estimation model for child care subsidy rates. The model must reflect actual costs of quality care - including staff wages, licensing compliance, program types (centers/family homes), age groups, and regional differences - replacing current market-rate surveys. An independent expert consultant will create the model by July 2027, with a report detailing cost variations and implementation plans due before the 2028 legislative session. This directly affects child care providers who receive subsidies and families relying on state-funded child care assistance.
HB 5675, the WV Reshoring Manufacturing Act, creates a tax credit for West Virginia businesses that replace imported goods with locally manufactured products. It directly affects businesses purchasing goods for resale or use in WV (eligible taxpayers) and manufacturers operating physical facilities in the state (qualified manufacturers). The bill provides tax credits equal to a percentage of the verified dollar value of imported goods replaced by WV-made goods, requiring independent CPA verification through "reshoring activity verification reports" for both initial and continued reshoring. Credits are time-limited, non-transferable, and expire after 10 years, with separate provisions for initial reshoring and repeat purchases of reshored goods. The program aims to reduce reliance on foreign imports by incentivizing local production, as documented in the Legislature's findings of $4.8 billion in imported goods purchased by WV businesses in 2024.
HB 5640 reforms West Virginia's tax sale process by creating two distinct tracks: one for owner-occupied homes (maintaining current protections) and another for non-owner-occupied properties like rentals or commercial buildings (eliminating the right to buy back the property after sale). The bill requires an independent title examination for non-owner-occupied properties to ensure accurate owner notification, strengthens notice requirements, and sets new procedures for purchasers, including providing mailing addresses and paying for notices. It also limits legal challenges if notice is not properly delivered, focusing on streamlining sales while ensuring fair processes for non-owner-occupied properties.
HB 5664 proposes creating the West Virginia Cares Fund, a state-run long-term care insurance program funded through payroll deductions for eligible state employees. It would provide a daily benefit of $100 for 365 days annually to cover approved services like in-home care, community-based support, and skilled nursing facility care. The bill aims to address the lack of affordable long-term care insurance, which leaves over 90% of seniors uninsured, by offering coverage through employee payroll premiums instead of out-of-pocket costs. This would allow beneficiaries to choose care settings (home, community, or facility) while maintaining current service options and seamless transitions from existing funding sources. The bill is currently in committee referral after its February 2026 introduction.
