SB 637 creates a tax credit for physicians who move to West Virginia and practice in medically underserved areas. To qualify, physicians must have graduated from an accredited U.S. medical school, completed residency within the past year, and agree to practice in designated underserved areas for six years. The credit equals up to their personal taxable income for three consecutive years, but any unused portion is forfeited after that period. This aims to address West Virginia’s physician shortage by incentivizing new medical professionals to locate in communities with limited healthcare access.
SB 96 requires entities (such as businesses, schools, or organizations) that place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on their premises to register those devices with the Office of Emergency Medical Services. The registration must include details like AED locations, training records for operators, maintenance plans, and coordination with emergency medical services. The bill eliminates the prior requirement for entities to designate a medical director for their AED program. This registration system aims to improve access to defibrillation during cardiac emergencies by ensuring AEDs are properly documented and accessible to emergency responders.
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Public Safety
HB 4392 bans specific dyes (FD&C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6) from being added to pharmaceutical products in West Virginia. This amendment to the state's drug adulteration law makes products containing these dyes legally "adulterated" if sold under recognized names. The bill directly affects pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors who currently use these dyes in medications. The ban will take effect January 1, 2028, if passed.
HB 4917 terminates West Virginia's Health Care Authority's certificate of need program, which previously required health facilities to obtain state approval before expanding services or building new facilities. This bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers that would have needed these approvals, eliminating that regulatory requirement. Key provisions include repealing related statutes, transferring the Authority's remaining powers and assets to the Secretary of the Department of Health, and directing funds to the general revenue fund. The bill also clarifies exemptions and establishes a summary review process for specific behavioral health services under the Secretary's authority.
This bill requires West Virginia correctional facilities to provide free feminine hygiene products (tampons and sanitary napkins) to female inmates and juvenile detainees upon request. Specifically, facilities must supply these products at no cost within eight hours of a request, directly affecting all female prisoners in state jails, regional jails, and correctional facilities, as well as female juveniles in detention centers. The law amends existing statutes to mandate this provision, ensuring access without financial barriers for menstrual care. It does not alter existing fee structures for other medical services but explicitly exempts feminine hygiene products from inmate charges.
SB 110 creates West Virginia's State Black Lung Program to provide financial benefits to coal miners diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis (black lung disease). It establishes a conclusive presumption of entitlement to pain and suffering benefits after 10 years of exposure (with 15 years required for full benefits), requiring no total disability proof. Benefits are calculated as $200 monthly base plus $15 per additional year beyond 15 years of exposure, and recipients may claim these as a state tax credit. The program is funded by a new 10% tax on coal severance and electricity generation from solar/wind devices, depositing revenue into the State Black Lung Fund.
HB 4116 extends West Virginia's Invests Grant Program to cover associate degrees and certificates in emergency medical services (EMS) programs. This change allows students enrolled in qualifying EMS training at eligible West Virginia institutions to apply for the grant, which previously did not include these credentials. The bill maintains existing eligibility requirements, such as West Virginia residency, academic standing (minimum 2.0 GPA), and enrollment in at least six credit hours per semester. Recipients must also agree to repay the grant if they leave West Virginia within two years of completing their EMS program.
SB 515 requires drug testing for individuals enrolled in office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for substance use disorders in West Virginia. It mandates an initial comprehensive test upon admission, followed by direct observation screening tests every two weeks for six weeks during early treatment, every 45 days for one year during stabilization, and every six months during maintenance. Providers may request additional testing for compliance, with unexpected results requiring confirmatory testing. This bill directly affects patients in MAT programs and their healthcare providers, establishing specific testing schedules under the state's treatment licensing rules.
This bill (SB 570) allocates $199,476,099 in unspent federal funds to the West Virginia Department of Health's "Rural Health Transformation Program" for fiscal year 2026. It adds a new funding line (Fund 8802, Org 0506) under the Department's Central Office to support this specific program. The funds are designated for rural health initiatives and directly affect the Department of Health's ability to implement these programs. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, using existing federal funds without new tax implications.
HB 4699 creates a tax credit for West Virginia employers who hire individuals participating in substance abuse recovery programs. It directly affects employers (with 1-100+ employees) and qualified individuals who are in good standing with a drug court program, working at least 120 hours monthly at minimum wage, and not displacing existing workers. Employers can claim a credit of up to $2,000 per eligible employee annually (capped at $14,000 total per business), based on their employee count (e.g., businesses with 1-10 employees can claim for 1 person). The credit requires annual application, verification of employee eligibility, and confidentiality protections for personal health information, with unused credits not carrying over.
