HB 4871 requires West Virginia public school districts to offer a vegetarian meal option that meets federal nutrition standards for students enrolled in schools. County school boards must make this option available but can require advance requests (with reasonable deadlines) and are not obligated to provide it if a request isn't submitted in time. The bill does not change existing rules for medical or religious dietary accommodations and allows school districts to set their own implementation procedures for requests and menu planning. It directly affects students seeking vegetarian meals and school nutrition programs operating under federal meal reimbursement programs.
HB 4950 establishes the West Virginia Freedom and Innovation Pilot Act of 2026, creating a voluntary program for any West Virginia county to join. Participating counties would receive $5,775 per enrolled student (as of December 2025) with a 1% annual funding increase if enrollment grows, while being exempt from state-mandated staffing ratios, service quotas, and central salary schedules - though they must still follow the Third Grade Success Act and federal requirements. Counties in the program maintain full control over school calendars, class sizes, salaries, and benefits, but administrative costs are capped at 7% of their total annual budget. The pilot begins July 1, 2026, and will be reviewed by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by July 1, 2031, after which it will sunset unless extended.
This bill expands the definition of "tourism attraction" under West Virginia's Tourism Development Act to include lodging facilities, allowing hotels and similar accommodations to qualify for state tax credits. The change directly affects businesses operating lodging facilities within the state that wish to participate in the Tourism Development Act credit program. By amending the existing code, the legislation removes lodging facilities from the list of excluded project types while maintaining the current criteria for other tourism attractions like cultural sites, recreation facilities, and entertainment centers. This policy adjustment aims to broaden the range of tourism-related projects eligible for financial incentives without altering the underlying credit structure or eligibility requirements for other attraction types.
HB 4997 prohibits individuals convicted of terroristic threats involving schools or children (under §61-6-24(b)) from residing within 1,000 feet of any educational facility, including public/private schools, preschools, or daycares where children are regularly present. This residency restriction applies automatically during probation or parole, or as a sentencing condition if no supervision is ordered. Violations are classified as felonies punishable by 1-5 years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines, or both, and may lead to revocation of probation. The bill uses GIS or property records to measure proximity and aligns with existing sex offender residency rules under §62-12-26.
HB 4834 amends West Virginia law to explicitly permit women’s wrestling as a sanctioned sport in public high schools and public charter schools. The bill directly affects school districts and athletic programs by allowing them to officially recognize and sponsor girls' wrestling teams under existing athletic regulations. It adds women’s wrestling to the list of permitted interscholastic athletic events without changing eligibility rules for students. The change requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to approve wrestling as a sanctioned sport under its authority.
HB 5558 creates the West Virginia Child Investment Account Matching Program, which provides a one-time state matching contribution (up to $250 per child) to existing federal "Trump Accounts" for eligible children born in West Virginia. The program prioritizes households with incomes under 300% of the federal poverty level and limits annual spending to $2.5 million. The West Virginia State Treasurer administers the program, verifying eligibility and preventing duplicate benefits, but the contributions require annual legislative appropriation and are not guaranteed. This bill directly affects families with children who already participate in the federal Trump Account program.
HB 5591 (West Virginia) allows pharmacists to dispense ivermectin to patients without a prescription, provided they follow standardized protocols established by the state pharmacy board. It protects pharmacists from criminal, civil, or professional disciplinary action when dispensing under these protocols. The bill directly affects pharmacists and patients seeking ivermectin for human use, removing the current prescription requirement. The pharmacy board may create specific rules for implementation through the legislative process.
HB 5597 amends West Virginia's court fee statute for civil cases, requiring $5 of a $15 fee charged for each additional defendant in a civil lawsuit to be deposited into the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund. This applies specifically to civil proceedings with multiple defendants (excluding "John/Jane Doe" cases) and would redirect funds currently allocated to county general funds toward the forensic lab. The bill's title references criminal convictions, but the provided text describes a civil court fee provision, creating a discrepancy between the title and the actual policy change. This bill affects civil court proceedings, not criminal cases.
HB 5541, titled "Daniel's Law," protects the personal contact information of certain public officials in West Virginia. It prohibits state/local agencies and private entities from disclosing home addresses or unpublished home/personal phone numbers of elected officials (including those who have won but not yet taken office), judicial officers, prosecutors, public defenders, and law enforcement officers without their written permission. The law applies to active, former, and retired officials, as well as their immediate family members living in the same household, aiming to prevent harassment or harm. It explicitly bans disclosure if a reasonable person would foresee the information could lead to risk of harm. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee after introduction on February 16, 2026.
HB 5561 would require West Virginia's Secretary of State to refer potential election fraud cases directly to the state Attorney General for prosecution, rather than to a county prosecuting attorney. Currently, the Secretary refers such cases to the Prosecuting Attorneys Institute, which appoints a county-level special prosecutor. This change would shift the primary responsibility for prosecuting election fraud from local county authorities to the state Attorney General's office. The bill affects how election fraud allegations are handled, moving the referral process from county to state level.
HB 5615 removes the requirement for an in-person visit before a patient's first telemedicine appointment in West Virginia. For patients who have had an in-person visit with the same provider within the past three years, the bill mandates an in-person follow-up within 12 months of the initial telemedicine service, with exceptions for acute care, behavioral health, addiction treatment, or palliative care. It also restricts prescribing Schedule II controlled substances (like strong opioids) via telehealth without special authorization, except for patients with an established provider relationship. These changes aim to standardize telehealth practice while ensuring patient safety through documentation and confidentiality rules.
HB 5611 creates a "Certified Microgrid Program" to streamline development of microgrid projects and large data centers in West Virginia. It directly affects data center developers and microgrid operators by prohibiting local governments from applying zoning, building permits, or other local regulations to these certified projects. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to appoint a "Data Economy Liaison" to coordinate project development and mandates that certified projects pay standard municipal business taxes. This law overrides local ordinances and home rule authority to ensure uniform state-level support for these projects.
