Healthcare

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

HB 5119: Establishing the right to contraception

HB 5119 establishes a legal right for West Virginia residents to access contraception and for healthcare providers to offer it. The bill prohibits state or local laws that restrict access to FDA-approved contraceptives (like pills, IUDs, condoms) or impede their use, requiring any such restrictions to prove they significantly advance safety with no less restrictive alternative. It allows individuals, healthcare providers, or the state attorney general to file civil lawsuits to challenge violating laws and seek court orders stopping enforcement. The bill explicitly does not affect health insurance coverage requirements for contraception.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes legal right to contraception access, prohibits restrictions on FDA-approved contraceptives, and allows lawsuits to challenge violations, directly improving patient access and protecting healthcare rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 8, 2026

SB 778: Relating to eligibility for homebound services for exceptional children

SB 778 amends West Virginia law to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants, alongside physicians, to certify students with disabilities as eligible for homebound educational services. This change directly affects families of exceptional children who require homebound instruction due to injury or health conditions. The key provision removes the previous restriction requiring certification only by physicians, expanding who can authorize this service. The bill aims to streamline access to homebound education by broadening the pool of qualified medical professionals who can make this determination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for homebound services by allowing nurse practitioners/physician assistants to certify, removing physician-only restriction and streamlining access for exceptional children in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare provider roles (NPs/PAs) to certify homebound services, improving access for children with health conditions by removing physician-only restriction.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5591: Relating to dispensing of ivermectin

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.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes prescription requirement for ivermectin, bypassing medical oversight and undermining standard healthcare safety protocols for medication dispensing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5042: Prohibit a child in the custody of the state from placement in facility not approved by Department of Human Services

HB 5042 prohibits placing children under state custody (such as in foster care or juvenile justice) in facilities not approved by West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DHS). The bill requires DHS to maintain and annually update a public list of approved out-of-state facilities, including each facility's location and specialty (e.g., mental health care). Exceptions for unapproved facilities are only permitted in "extraordinary circumstances" with DHS Secretary approval. This law directly affects state child welfare systems, DHS oversight, and facilities seeking to house children in state care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires DHS approval for facilities providing mental health care to children in state custody, ensuring access to approved mental health services and protecting patient rights for vulnerable youth.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Children

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 1003: Creating regional pediatric mental health hubs

This bill creates three regional pediatric mental health hubs (Northern, Southern, and Central) in West Virginia to improve access to care for children under 12. Each hub must maintain real-time service directories, live wait-time maps for counselors, and provide parents with a behavioral health coach within 48 hours during waitlists. It also establishes secure telehealth kiosks in county health departments for families without high-speed internet. The bill redirects 5% of current "Out-of-State Residential Placement" funds to cover these in-home services, prioritizing community support over removing children from their homes due to unavailable local resources.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates pediatric mental health hubs with real-time access tools, behavioral health coaches, and telehealth kiosks to improve child mental health care access, directly advancing healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes telehealth kiosks in county health departments for families without high-speed internet, expanding access to digital health services and promoting digital equity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Mental Health Telehealth Broadband Access

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

HB 5458: Relating to professionals to be licensed by the West Virginia Board of Medicine

HB 5458 creates a new Genetic Counselors Practice Act under West Virginia law, directly affecting individuals seeking to practice genetic counseling in the state. The bill requires criminal background checks for all new genetic counseling license applicants, mandates that practitioners hold a valid license before providing services, and defines the scope of genetic counseling practice. It prohibits genetic counselors from representing themselves as licensed physicians and establishes penalties including up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine for violations. The bill also sets continuing education requirements, licensure renewal processes, and disciplinary procedures specific to genetic counselors.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes licensing requirements and background checks for genetic counselors, ensuring qualified practitioners and protecting patient safety per the Practice Act.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 5260: Relating generally to medical cannabis

HB 5260 adds "edible" as an allowable form of medical cannabis in West Virginia, with strict requirements for safety and regulation. It requires processors to obtain bureau approval for each edible product, mandates specific shapes (like squares or circles), limits edibles to lozenges or gelatins, and caps THC content at 10mg per serving with a 15% potency variance. The bill prohibits color additives in edibles and requires all medical cannabis dispensing to be reported to the state's controlled substance monitoring database. This directly affects patients using medical cannabis, caregivers, and licensed processors who must comply with these new edible-specific rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds edible medical cannabis forms with safety regulations, expanding patient access to healthcare services under strict safety protocols.95% confidence

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

HB 5131: Establish food desert produce pilot program

HB 5131 establishes a two-year pilot program through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to improve access to fresh, affordable produce in food desert communities - defined as areas lacking nutritious food options. The program requires selecting partnering providers to operate weekly markets in three designated food desert communities (including one rural area), with providers obligated to accept multiple payment methods, offer discounted produce packages, and donate surplus to food banks. It directly affects residents in these communities who struggle to access fresh food, while requiring providers to demonstrate reliable supply and include storage/recipe guides. The Department must submit a legislative report within two years detailing participating communities, families served, voucher usage, and recommendations for expanding the program statewide.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareImproves access to nutritious food in underserved areas, addressing public health concerns linked to food deserts through a targeted pilot program.85% confidence

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signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 848: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Homeland Security, fund 0450

SB 848 is a supplemental appropriation bill that allocates $84,600 from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to cover inmate medical expenses for the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation under the Department of Homeland Security during fiscal year 2026. This funding specifically targets Correctional Units within the Division and uses existing surplus funds identified in the Governor’s budget document. The bill does not create new programs or alter policies but directs available resources to address medical costs for inmates. It is a routine budget adjustment, not a policy change, to ensure necessary healthcare funding for correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds inmate medical expenses in corrections, directly supporting the corrections aspect of criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds inmate medical expenses in corrections through targeted appropriation, directly supporting healthcare access for incarcerated individuals within public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5440: Allowing healthcare workers to refuse to perform procedures related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning for religious or conscientious objection

HB 5440 would allow healthcare workers - including doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists - to refuse to perform or assist with medical procedures related to gender transition (such as hormone therapy or surgeries) based on religious or moral objections. It protects these providers from workplace discrimination, retaliation, or penalties for such refusals. The bill defines "healthcare provider" broadly to cover all medical staff and institutions, and specifies that refusal to provide gender transition-related care cannot be considered discrimination if based on conscience. The law aims to shield healthcare professionals from being forced to participate in procedures conflicting with their beliefs. This bill is currently in the introduction stage, referred to the Health and Human Resources committee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access to gender transition care by enabling healthcare workers to refuse services based on religious objections, directly limiting healthcare access for transgender patients.95% confidence

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