SB 778 amends West Virginia law to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants, alongside physicians, to certify students with disabilities as eligible for homebound educational services. This change directly affects families of exceptional children who require homebound instruction due to injury or health conditions. The key provision removes the previous restriction requiring certification only by physicians, expanding who can authorize this service. The bill aims to streamline access to homebound education by broadening the pool of qualified medical professionals who can make this determination.
This Senate Resolution designates March 6, 2026, as Girl Scouts Day at the West Virginia Legislature to recognize the organization's 114th anniversary and its role in fostering leadership and civic engagement among girls. The measure formally commends the Girl Scout Movement and the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council for providing a safe, inclusive space where girls can develop skills in STEM, public service, and community impact. Additionally, the resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the document to the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council as an official acknowledgment of their work.
This bill designates March 6, 2026, as Mingo County Day at the West Virginia Legislature to recognize the county's history and contributions to the state. It acknowledges Mingo County's unique heritage, including its formation in 1895, coal mining legacy, and significant historical events like the Mine Wars and Battle of Matewan. The resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send a copy of the document to the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce. This measure is a commemorative recognition with no changes to laws, budgets, or government operations.
HB 5464 modifies West Virginia's horse racing regulations to support thoroughbred racing operations. It establishes definitions for "West Virginia Certified Thoroughbred horses," sets purse requirements for restricted races, and increases the $1 million annual funding cap for racetracks that did not participate in the West Virginia Development Fund before 1992. The bill also adds an inflation adjustment for net terminal income deposited into the state Excess Lottery Revenue Fund and changes how that income is distributed. These changes directly affect licensed thoroughbred racetracks in West Virginia, particularly those with historical non-participation in the Development Fund. The policy focuses on adjusting financial mechanisms for existing racetracks rather than creating new facilities or jobs.
SB 745 prohibits specific food additives in West Virginia school meals, banning dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 starting August 1, 2025, and additional preservatives like BHT and artificial sweeteners starting August 1, 2027. It limits added sugars to no more than 5% of daily calories and requires a minimum fiber-to-carbohydrate ratio of 1 gram of fiber per 10 grams of carbs in school meals. Schools must post full ingredient lists for all breakfast and lunch menu items online. The bill directly affects all West Virginia public schools operating nutrition programs, aiming to improve meal nutritional standards.
SB 185 amends West Virginia law to explicitly allow sheriffs to appoint more than one chief deputy, requiring approval from the county commission. This change clarifies that the current law does not limit the number of chief deputies, addressing potential ambiguity in previous interpretations. The bill does not alter other requirements for deputy appointments, such as the need for county commission consent or the oath of office. It directly affects sheriffs and county commissions in all West Virginia counties by providing greater flexibility in managing law enforcement staffing.
This bill creates a new felony offense for indecent exposure committed in front of minors and requires individuals convicted of this crime to register as sex offenders. The legislation defines indecent exposure as exposing one's nude penis, vagina, or anus and includes undressing in opposite-sex locker rooms as a violation while removing exemptions for breastfeeding. Penalties increase with repeat offenses, and the new crime counts as a qualifying offense for recidivist sentencing enhancements. The bill also clarifies that registration requirements apply retroactively to past convictions involving these offenses.
This Senate resolution designates the month of March as American Red Cross Month to recognize the organization's humanitarian work in West Virginia. The measure formally acknowledges the Red Cross's services, which include disaster relief, blood donation collection, military family support, and lifesaving skills training for residents. By adopting this resolution, the Senate expresses appreciation for the organization's efforts and directs the Clerk to send a copy to the Central Appalachian Regional office of the American Red Cross.
SB 894 eliminates 30+ outdated or unnecessary state boards, commissions, and committees (like the Public Land Corporation, Women’s Commission, and Medicaid Enhancement Boards) and transfers their duties, funds, and property to existing agencies. Key changes include moving the Public Land Corporation’s assets to the Division of Natural Resources, ending the Southern West Virginia Lake Development Study Commission, and shifting the Motorsport Committee’s composition. The bill also removes redundant reporting requirements and streamlines responsibilities for entities like conservation districts. This procedural reform aims to reduce government redundancy without creating new policies or altering public services.
This bill creates a new criminal offense called "child torture" in West Virginia law, targeting caregivers, parents, or others with a duty of protection who intentionally or recklessly subject a child under their care to severe physical or psychological acts. It defines torture as including acts like breaking limbs, inflicting prolonged pain, depriving food/water for unreasonable periods, sexual abuse, or terrorizing the child to cause significant emotional distress. The bill establishes felony penalties: 1-5 years in prison if no bodily injury occurs, and 2-10 years if bodily injury results. It directly affects individuals in positions of trust over children, such as parents, guardians, or custodians, by imposing specific criminal consequences for documented severe abuse.
SB 1036 modernizes foster care funding in West Virginia by requiring the Department of Human Services to update basic, special, and therapeutic foster care payment rates using current cost data. It mandates automatic annual adjustments based on the Employment Cost Index (ECI) for Health Care & Social Assistance or the CPI-Medical index to keep pace with rising costs. The bill also requires therapeutic foster care and agency administrative rates to reflect current expenses and includes retention incentives for foster care providers. This directly affects foster parents, child-placing agencies, and the Department of Human Services by stabilizing workforce compensation and placement continuity. The changes aim to improve recruitment and retention in the child welfare system through updated, cost-based funding.
SB 1074 allows newly hired emergency medical vehicle operators in West Virginia to join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. The bill amends state law to include these new employees as eligible members of the retirement system, expanding coverage beyond current participants. This change directly affects new hires in emergency medical services who were previously excluded from the system. The legislation modifies eligibility definitions in the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System Act without altering existing contribution rates or benefit calculations. It does not impact current system members or require additional state funding.
