SB 998 creates a loan repayment program targeting mental health professionals who treat children and adolescents in West Virginia. It directly affects licensed providers in fields like clinical psychologists, social workers, and nurse practitioners who meet specific eligibility criteria. The program repays student loans annually based on 12 consecutive months of full-time employment in the state, with a maximum of 10 years of repayment. To qualify, applicants must hold a West Virginia license, have eligible student loans in good standing, and maintain full-time employment in the designated field.
SB 1047 creates a non-criminal system to address homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges by requiring law enforcement to issue verbal warnings, then written warnings, and finally refer individuals to community behavioral health centers after three encounters - replacing arrests or citations. The bill sets standards for recovery housing to be substance-free, trauma-informed, and long-term, with specific provisions for family recovery housing supporting pregnant women and mothers with children. It prohibits criminalizing homelessness or addiction, integrates community behavioral health centers with recovery housing services, and mandates an annual report from a state advisory team, all using existing state resources without new funding. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 5213 expands West Virginia's involuntary commitment pilot program to include Cabell, Berkeley, Hampshire, Morgan, and Ohio counties. It requires mental health centers to provide timely evaluations (in-person or via video when delays would occur) and explain commitment processes to individuals. The bill mandates quarterly audits of commitment applications to ensure clinical justification and establishes a process to develop standards for alternative transportation providers before they can be used. These changes directly affect mental health centers, courts, law enforcement, and the Department of Human Services in the pilot counties.
HB 5407 requires West Virginia's child welfare department to share medical, dental, and mental health records of children in abuse/neglect cases with their school counselors within 30 days of placement. This directly affects the department, mental health providers, school counselors, and children involved in juvenile court cases. The key mechanism is a mandatory record-sharing process to improve collaboration among professionals supporting the child's well-being. The bill aims to streamline information flow without changing existing court procedures or standards of care. It is a procedural amendment to existing child welfare law, not a new substantive policy.
HB 5184 would prohibit adding new licensed substance abuse treatment beds in any West Virginia county that already has more than 250 such beds. This directly affects counties meeting that bed threshold by restricting the expansion of drug and alcohol treatment facilities. The bill amends existing law to specifically bar new bed additions in these high-capacity counties, while exempting certain approved clinical trials for opioid treatment programs. It does not change rules for counties with fewer than 250 beds or affect existing facilities. The change creates a clear threshold limiting new treatment capacity in areas already serving high demand.
HB 5054 requires counties participating in West Virginia's QMHP Pilot Program to ensure every public school in the county has at least one qualified mental health professional (QMHP). A QMHP is defined as a registered mental health professional (including school counselors, who are automatically classified as QMHPs under the bill) who collaborates with schools but does not practice independently. This mandate applies only to schools in counties that join the pilot program, aiming to guarantee student access to mental health support. The bill does not alter existing school counselor duties but formalizes their role in meeting the QMHP requirement.
HB 5623, the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, prohibits licensed mental health providers in West Virginia from performing conversion therapy on anyone under 18. The bill specifically bans both direct conversion therapy and referrals to providers offering such services, covering clinical psychologists, social workers, school counselors, and other licensed professionals. Violations would be treated as unprofessional conduct, with first offenses resulting in written warnings and mandatory training, and repeat offenses leading to disciplinary action by licensing boards. This law directly affects minors under 18 and all mental health providers licensed in West Virginia who interact with youth clients.
SB 994 requires West Virginia Medicaid to set reimbursement rates for outpatient mental health services at the same level as Medicare Part B rates. It directly affects mental health providers in licensed behavioral health centers who offer services like psychotherapy, medication management, and psychiatric evaluations for adults, children, and families. The bill mandates a state board to develop a proposal for these rate increases by July 1, 2026, ensuring Medicaid rates never fall below Medicare rates for identical services. This change aims to improve payment equity for mental health care providers participating in Medicaid.
HB 5498 clarifies that members of county child abuse investigative teams cannot be personally liable for actions taken during investigations of child sexual assault, abuse, or neglect - such as prosecutors, law enforcement, child protective services workers, health care providers, and mental health professionals. The bill specifically protects team members from liability for routine work in these investigations, but does not shield them from claims arising from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional harm. This amendment to West Virginia law directly affects the 8 permanent team member roles listed in the bill and ensures they can participate without personal legal risk for standard investigative actions. The change aims to strengthen team collaboration by removing personal liability concerns during sensitive child abuse cases.
HB 5580 amends West Virginia law to clarify liability protections for local emergency telephone systems. It grants immunity from civil lawsuits for public agencies, telephone companies, and their employees when operating emergency systems or referring callers to the national 988 mental health hotline - except in cases of gross negligence. The bill specifically adds immunity protection for referrals to 988 (the national mental health crisis line) while maintaining that gross negligence remains a basis for liability. This change directly affects emergency call centers, telephone providers, and county emergency services that handle crisis referrals. The law aims to encourage participation in the 988 system without fear of liability for routine operations.
