Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 742: Modifying requirements for involuntary hospitalization

SB 742 modifies West Virginia's involuntary hospitalization process by allowing an authorized hospital physician to place a person under a 72-hour hold without first contacting specific officials (like mental hygiene commissioners). It removes the previous 24-hour deadline for filing a formal petition to extend the hold, instead requiring this petition to be filed within 72 hours. The bill also ensures hospitals and physicians are paid standard rates for these services and are protected from liability when acting in good faith. This directly affects individuals facing involuntary hospitalization for mental illness or addiction and the healthcare providers managing their care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines involuntary mental health hospitalization process, improving timely care access and ensuring provider payment/protection for services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health Substance Abuse

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 741: Expanding pilot program to implement involuntary commitment process

SB 741 expands the pilot program for involuntary commitment processes to include additional counties: Cabell, Berkeley, Hampshire, Morgan, Ohio, and Wood. The bill requires mental health centers in these counties to provide timely evaluations (in-person or via video) for potential commitment and explain the process to affected individuals. It also mandates quarterly audits of commitment applications to ensure clinical justification, with findings kept confidential. This bill directly affects mental health centers, courts, law enforcement, and individuals subject to involuntary commitment in the expanded counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health commitment pilot with timely evaluations and clinical audits, strengthening patient access and rights in mental healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 5293: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Human Services - Community Mental Health Services from Federal Block Grants.

HB 5293 is a procedural bill that adjusts existing federal funding allocations for West Virginia's Community Mental Health Services. It shifts $200,000 from the "Federal Coronavirus Pandemic" funding category to the "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" category within the same fiscal year (2026). This reallocation does not add new funding but modifies how existing federal block grant money will be used for staffing and operations. The bill directly affects the Department of Human Services' Community Mental Health Services program, ensuring funds are directed toward personnel costs. It is a routine budget adjustment, not a policy change, and requires no new legislative action beyond the funding realignment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReallocates existing federal funds to cover staffing costs for Community Mental Health Services, ensuring continued operations without new funding or tax changes.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReallocates existing federal funds to staffing for community mental health services, directly supporting operational needs without defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5247: Establishing a pilot program to develop school-based mental and behavioral health services

HB 5247 establishes a three-year pilot program in West Virginia schools to provide mental and behavioral health services as an alternative to suspending students for disruptive behavior. It directly affects students with disruptive behaviors, their families, and participating schools that already operate school-based health centers or have implemented the state's "expanded school mental health framework." Schools in the pilot must offer mental health services through direct hire or contracts, accept referrals from school discipline or courts, conduct assessments, involve families, and bill insurance or the school for services. The program aims to redirect students toward support instead of punishment while ensuring services are available for all levels of need.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects disciplinary actions from suspension to mental health services, reducing school-to-prison pipeline - a criminal justice reform strategy.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a pilot program providing mental health services to replace suspensions for disruptive behavior in K-12 schools, directly enhancing student support and school-based services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes school-based mental health services as alternative to suspensions, directly expanding access to mental health care for students per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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

HB 5349: Requiring the Public Employees Agency and other health insurance providers to provide mental health parity

HB 5349 requires West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) and other health insurers to provide mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder coverage that is equally comprehensive as coverage for physical health conditions. It mandates specific protections, including annual screenings for depression and substance use, fair access to providers (like coverage for non-participating providers when needed), and clear denial notices explaining parity rights. The bill directly affects public employees covered by PEIA and all health insurance providers operating in West Virginia under state regulations. It also requires annual reporting on compliance and sets an effective date of June 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal mental health coverage parity with physical health, expanding access and protecting patient rights per bill's requirements for insurers and PEIA.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 754: Creating Foster Care Facilities Improvement Fund

SB 754 creates a special fund called the "Foster Care Facilities Improvement Fund" to support West Virginia nonprofit organizations operating foster care facilities. The fund, financed through state appropriations, donations, and investment income, prioritizes grants for renovating, constructing, or maintaining residential childcare facilities - especially those providing psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and trauma services. An Advisory Committee (appointed by the Department of Human Services) recommends quarterly disbursements based on identified needs, with priority given to local nonprofits improving facility access and quality. The bill ensures unspent balances roll over annually and reinvests savings from reduced out-of-state placements to expand high-quality care within the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state-funded special fund (via appropriations) to finance foster care facility improvements, directly allocating budget resources to support essential public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly funds foster care facilities providing psychiatric and trauma services, directly supporting mental health care as part of healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Children

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4228: Relating to authorizing the Office of Inspector General to promulgate a legislative rule relating to behavioral health centers licensure.

HB 4228 authorizes the Office of Inspector General to establish a rule for licensing behavioral health centers. It specifically clarifies that child placing agencies providing behavioral health services are deemed licensed for those services under their existing child placing license, as defined in another rule (78CSR02). This change eliminates the need for these agencies to obtain a separate behavioral health license. The bill amends an existing rule (71 CSR 25) to include this provision, streamlining the licensing process for covered agencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves duplicate licensing requirement for child placing agencies providing behavioral health services, improving access to mental health care without additional administrative barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 279: Office of Inspector General rule relating to behavioral health centers licensure

SB 279 amends a rule to clarify that child placing agencies providing behavioral health services are covered under their existing licenses, eliminating the need for separate licensure for those services. The bill adds a new provision stating the Office of Inspector General director will deem such agencies' licenses to include behavioral health services as defined in 78CSR02. This directly affects child placing agencies in West Virginia that offer behavioral health services within their current licensing scope. The policy change simplifies licensure requirements by aligning behavioral health services with existing agency licenses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves unnecessary licensure barriers for agencies providing behavioral health services, enabling expanded access to mental health care without new costs or restrictions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5004: Relating generally to PANS and PANDAS.

HB 5004 requires Medicaid and private health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover medically necessary diagnosis and treatment for Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuroimmune Disorders (PANS and PANDAS), as defined by the National Institutes of Health. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees and patients with these conditions, ensuring coverage for diagnostic testing, medications, immune-related treatments, and behavioral services when ordered by a physician and supported by medical evidence. The bill mandates coverage parity for behavioral symptoms, preventing insurers from restricting care solely due to psychiatric manifestations. It also requires the state health department to educate providers on recognizing PANS/PANDAS symptoms, including acute onset, association with strep infections, and neurological symptoms. The legislation applies to all health benefit plans subject to West Virginia's insurance laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/private insurers to cover PANS/PANDAS diagnosis/treatment, expanding coverage for affected patients and improving access to medical services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 23, 2026

HB 4021: Bring them Home Fund.

HB 4021 creates the "Bring Them Home Fund" to finance renovating existing state properties for in-state residential treatment facilities serving children requiring acute psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, or trauma services. Managed by the West Virginia Department of Human Services, the fund will be funded through state appropriations, grants, donations, and investment income, with savings from reduced out-of-state placements reinvested into the fund. Key provisions authorize the department to renovate state properties, develop targeted treatment programs matching historically out-of-state placements, and partner with private entities to operate state-owned facilities. This aims to expand West Virginia’s child welfare provider network, keeping children closer to family support while lowering costs associated with out-of-state care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunded via state appropriations for public child treatment services, aligning with budget allocation for essential programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates fund to finance in-state residential treatment facilities for children's mental health services, directly increasing funding for mental health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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