Healthcare (Public Health)

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SR 62: Designating March 12, 2026, as WV Athletic Trainers Day

This Senate resolution designates March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day to honor the profession. It recognizes athletic trainers as skilled healthcare professionals who provide injury prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitation services to athletes and other community members. The resolution formally acknowledges their contributions to public health and does not create new laws or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors athletic trainers as healthcare professionals, recognizing their contributions to injury prevention and public health services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

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

HB 5254: Establishing the Minority Health Advisory Team

HB 5254 establishes the Minority Health Advisory Team (MYHAT) to advise West Virginia’s public health commissioner on improving services for minority populations. The 20-member team - comprised of health experts, educators, community representatives, and state agency leaders - will identify communities for a Community Health Equity Initiative Demonstration Project targeting documented health disparities, such as higher infant mortality rates and poverty among African American families. Key mechanisms include reviewing community plans, recommending grant applications, and ensuring state programs address minority health needs. The project, authorized under the bill, requires participating communities to submit data and aligns with the Legislature’s findings on racial health inequities. The advisory team must be appointed by August 1, 2026, and meets at least twice yearly.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates advisory team to address health disparities for minority populations through targeted initiatives, strengthening equity in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 1075: Funding Tobacco Use Cessation Initiative

SB 1075 creates a dedicated "Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account" in West Virginia's state treasury, managed by the Bureau for Public Health. It directs $5 million annually - starting July 2026 - from interest earned on the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund to fund tobacco use cessation programs. The bill specifies these funds must be used exclusively for cessation services, such as counseling and nicotine replacement therapies, administered by the Bureau for Public Health. This initiative directly affects West Virginians seeking tobacco cessation support through state-funded programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $5M annually from interest earnings to fund tobacco cessation programs, directly supporting public health funding through dedicated budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $5M annually to public health tobacco cessation programs, directly funding counseling and nicotine therapies through the Bureau for Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Public Health

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5633: Relating to extending the expiration date on a pilot program administered by the Herbert Henderson Office on Minority Affairs to promote public health through comprehensive community development.

HB 5633 extends the expiration date of a pilot program run by the Herbert Henderson Office on Minority Affairs, which aims to improve public health through community development in West Virginia. The program, currently set to expire on July 1, 2031, will continue addressing poverty, substance abuse, and other health challenges by coordinating existing state and federal resources like housing services and youth programs. It requires collaboration with nonprofit organizations and targets rural, suburban, and urban communities to improve health outcomes and economic development. The program must report progress to the Select Committee on Minority Affairs Interim Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends pilot program improving public health via community development, coordinating resources to address poverty/substance abuse challenges in West Virginia.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

Track

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

HB 5112: Prohibiting laws requiring person to receive or use medical products

HB 5112 prohibits any West Virginia law from requiring residents to receive or use medical products, such as vaccines or treatments. It directly affects all West Virginia residents and ensures no penalties (like fines) or loss of benefits (such as services or programs) can be imposed for refusing a medical product or declining to disclose its use. The bill amends health code §16-3-1 to state that no law may coerce medical product use, penalize refusal, or deny benefits based on refusal or disclosure. This applies broadly to all medical products under state law, not limited to specific treatments. The law would override existing or future state mandates requiring medical products during public health emergencies.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits mandates for medical products (e.g., vaccines), restricting public health program enforcement and limiting state requirements for health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 773: Requiring Department of Health to report positive alpha-gal tests to CDC

SB 773 would require the West Virginia Department of Health to propose rules adding alpha-gal syndrome to the list of diseases that must be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alpha-gal syndrome causes allergic reactions to red meat and is often triggered by tick bites. If enacted, healthcare providers in West Virginia would be required to report confirmed cases of this condition to the state health department, which would then share the data with the CDC. This change would improve public health tracking of alpha-gal syndrome cases in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires reporting of alpha-gal syndrome cases to CDC for enhanced public health surveillance, strengthening disease tracking and response capabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

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

HB 5108: To fund the Tobacco Use Cessation Initiative

HB 5108 creates a dedicated "Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account" managed by the Bureau for Public Health to fund tobacco use cessation programs. It mandates an annual transfer of $5 million from interest earned on the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund - Part B to this account, starting July 30, 2026. The funds are specifically designated for tobacco cessation initiatives and must be used as outlined in the bill, with balances carrying over annually. This directly affects the Bureau for Public Health, which administers the programs funded by these dedicated resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M annually from reserve interest to fund tobacco cessation programs, directly advancing public health funding through dedicated budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $5M annually for tobacco cessation public health programs, directly funding a healthcare-related initiative under the Bureau for Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Public Health

Track

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

HB 5585: Relating to authorizing the use of Revenue Shortfall Reserve Funds for public health emergencies.

HB 5585 would expand access to West Virginia's Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund to cover public health emergencies. It specifically authorizes the Governor to draw from this fund to support public service districts and water board improvements in counties designated as being in a public health emergency. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include public health emergencies as a valid reason for using the reserve fund, alongside natural disasters or revenue shortfalls. This change would directly affect designated counties by providing funding for essential public health infrastructure during emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands access to reserve funds for public health emergencies, ensuring fiscal support for essential services during crises per amended law.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes use of state funds for public health emergencies, expanding financial support for health infrastructure and emergency response in designated counties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Public Health

Track

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 · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5031: To standardize reporting practices and improve forensic and public health research by including vaccination history in death investigations

HB 5031 requires West Virginia's Fatality and Mortality Review Team (under the Department of Health) to have access to vaccination records during death investigations. The bill amends state law to explicitly include vaccination records as a type of medical information the team may request from government agencies. State, county, and local agencies must provide these records upon written request. This change directly affects the review team's ability to gather data for forensic and public health research, while requiring health and government agencies to share vaccination history in death cases. The bill standardizes reporting practices by adding vaccination records to the types of information investigators can access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires vaccination records for public health research, enhancing data collection for mortality studies and improving forensic analysis under health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track