Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 729: Setting forth mandatory Medicaid program requirements

This bill establishes mandatory Medicaid program requirements for West Virginia, directly affecting Medicaid enrollees including adults, children, and individuals receiving coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Key provisions include implementing a work requirement by January 1, 2027; prohibiting Medicaid use by undocumented residents starting October 1, 2026; requiring biannual eligibility verification; ending multi-state enrollment; removing deceased members quarterly; reducing error rates to 3% by 2028; and limiting retroactive eligibility to 30-60 days. The bill aligns West Virginia’s Medicaid program with federal requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), mandating the Bureau for Medical Services to seek necessary federal authority to implement these changes. It also requires Medicaid waivers to be budget neutral and amends specific taxes related to managed care and providers.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes work requirements, bans undocumented residents from Medicaid, and restricts eligibility - clearly limits coverage access and reduces program participation.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits Medicaid access for undocumented residents starting Oct 2026, directly restricting immigrant access to state health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5338: Health Freedom for Teachers and Students Act.

HB 5338, the Health Freedom for Teachers and Students Act, prohibits West Virginia public schools from requiring teachers, staff, or students to receive immunizations or medical treatments as a condition of employment or enrollment. The bill also bans school employees from coercing or intimidating others into receiving such treatments. It amends state law to establish these protections immediately upon passage, directly affecting all public school employees and students in West Virginia. The legislation removes mandatory vaccination or medical treatment requirements that previously applied to school settings.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill prohibits mandatory immunizations in schools, restricting a standard health policy requirement for K-12 institutions.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBans mandatory school immunizations, restricting a key public health measure that protects community health and school safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 921: Prohibiting Medicaid from being used for abortions or gender reassignment surgery

SB 921 prohibits West Virginia Medicaid from funding abortions (except as allowed under existing law) or gender transition procedures. It disqualifies healthcare providers performing these services from participating in Medicaid and bans Medicaid payments for referrals related to them. The bill defines "public funds" broadly to include state and federal healthcare funds and allows lawsuits by affected individuals or the Attorney General to enforce these restrictions. It directly affects Medicaid recipients seeking these services and healthcare providers who perform them.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts Medicaid coverage for abortions and gender transition procedures, limiting access to healthcare services under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5378: Modifying the requirements for compulsory childhood immunizations to provide for exemptions based on religious and philosophical objections

HB 5378 would allow parents to exempt their children from required school vaccinations based on religious or philosophical beliefs, expanding beyond the current medical exemption only. This bill directly affects school-aged children and their families in West Virginia who seek to opt out of mandatory immunizations. Key provisions include requiring schools to track and report the number of exempt students, clarifying that medical exemptions remain available for health reasons, and specifying that physicians must provide written statements for exemptions. The bill does not change the list of required vaccines but modifies the exemption process and reporting requirements for schools.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill expands non-medical exemptions for school vaccinations, weakening public health mandate and reducing vaccination rates required for disease prevention.90% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5324: Amending the procedures for determining liability for exposures to asbestos or silica.

HB 5324 changes the time limit for filing lawsuits related to asbestos or silica exposure in West Virginia. It sets the start date for lawsuits as the earlier of: when a person receives a medical diagnosis, discovers the exposure, or dies (if exposed). The bill also separates non-cancer cases (like lung disease) from cancer cases and prohibits claims for fear of future illness. Additionally, it limits lawsuits against coal mining equipment manufacturers to within 10 or 12 years from the equipment's first sale, depending on circumstances.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts asbestos/silica exposure lawsuit timelines and prohibits fear-of-illness claims, limiting legal remedies for health-related injuries.85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5090: To eliminate all vaccine requirements for school children

HB 5090 would eliminate all vaccine requirements for school children in West Virginia by amending state law to prohibit schools from mandating vaccinations as a condition for enrollment. The bill removes current requirements that students must be immunized against specific diseases like measles, polio, and chickenpox to attend school. This change would directly affect all public, private, and parochial schools in the state and their enrolled students. The legislation does not address vaccine safety or public health measures, only the enrollment requirement.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates mandatory vaccination requirements for school enrollment, removing a key health and safety standard in K-12 education policy.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill eliminates mandatory school vaccines (measles, polio, etc.), directly restricting public health initiatives and weakening immunization requirements for children.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5181: Relating to removing the Certificate of Need moratorium on opioid treatment facilities

This bill repeals a law that paused Certificate of Need (CON) requirements for opioid treatment facilities. By removing the moratorium, it ends the temporary exemption allowing these facilities to bypass state approval for expansion. Now, opioid treatment centers in West Virginia would need to obtain a Certificate of Need before expanding services or opening new locations. This directly affects opioid treatment facilities seeking to grow or add services within the state.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes moratorium requiring opioid treatment facilities to obtain Certificate of Need for expansion, restricting their ability to grow and limiting patient access to services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 609: Exempting students of higher education from compulsory vaccination requirements

SB 609 would exempt West Virginia higher education students at colleges, universities, and vocational schools from mandatory vaccination requirements. Students aged 18+ or their parents/guardians could request exemption by submitting a signed statement objecting to immunizations based on sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill creates a new religious exemption pathway for student vaccinations, replacing current policies requiring all students to comply with school immunization rules. This change applies specifically to higher education institutions and does not affect other vaccination requirements.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill creates religious exemption for student vaccinations, reducing mandatory public health requirement. Limits enforcement of vaccination program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 608: Relating to religious exemption to mandatory vaccination requirements

SB 608 would amend West Virginia law to add a religious exemption for school immunization requirements. It allows children to be exempt from mandatory vaccines (chickenpox, measles, polio, and others) if parents or guardians submit a signed certification stating their sincerely held religious objections. This exemption would apply to children entering public, private, or parochial schools and state-regulated child care centers. The bill does not change the list of required vaccines or existing medical exemptions, but adds religious objections as a new basis for exemption. Schools and child care centers would need to accept these religious exemption certifications for enrollment.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill weakens mandatory school vaccination requirements by adding religious exemptions, directly restricting public health program enforcement for immunization coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 173: Prohibiting abortifacients

This bill prohibits the distribution or prescription of "abortifacients" (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It directly affects licensed medical professionals (like doctors and pharmacists) and anyone distributing such drugs, with violations carrying felony penalties (3-10 years imprisonment) for non-professionals and potential license revocation for medical providers. Key provisions include banning the mailing, sale, or dissemination of abortifacients without a valid prescription, requiring medical professionals to attest to compliance, and creating a civil lawsuit option for affected parties. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies - defined as situations where an abortion is necessary to prevent serious risk of death or life-threatening impairment to the patient.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits access to abortion-related medical services, restricting patient healthcare options and provider practices under West Virginia law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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