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.
HB 5062 creates the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act to expand Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and infants in West Virginia. It extends postpartum coverage to one year (up from the previous standard), increases reimbursement rates for prenatal/delivery care to at least $600, and adds coverage for depression screening, self-measured blood pressure monitoring, remote ultrasounds, and doula services. The bill directly affects low-income pregnant women and newborns whose family incomes are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Key provisions include requiring Medicaid to cover specific services like fetal monitoring and gestational diabetes management without bundled payments, and ensuring continuous eligibility for one year after pregnancy regardless of income changes.
HB 5442 requires hospitals and healthcare providers in West Virginia to complete training on the uses and risks of progesterone and mifepristone for pregnant women, specifically focusing on medication abortion (referred to as "chemical abortion" in the bill). The training covers how progesterone can counteract mifepristone and how to identify/treat complications from medication abortion, developed by the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health. Hospitals providing gynecologic, obstetric, or emergency care must ensure their licensed staff complete this training, with restrictions preventing contracts with organizations defined as part of the "abortion industry." The bill does not change abortion access but mandates standardized education for healthcare providers.
HB 5523 requires hospitals, clinics, and emergency departments in West Virginia to provide a physician or certified nurse midwife examination before discharging any woman in the later stages of pregnancy. It mandates that facilities provide written and verbal discharge instructions covering key topics like labor signs, warning symptoms, activity guidance, follow-up care, and emergency contacts, all in accessible language. The instructions must be reviewed with the patient or their representative, and the facility must document that they were provided. This bill directly affects pregnant patients in late-stage pregnancy and healthcare facilities across the state, aiming to improve safety through standardized discharge protocols.
HJR 36 is a constitutional amendment proposal (not a regular bill) that would add a new section to West Virginia's Constitution guaranteeing reproductive rights. It states that every individual has the right to make decisions about contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion, with the state prohibited from interfering unless using the least restrictive means for health. The amendment allows abortion restrictions after fetal viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb with medical care) only if a physician determines it's necessary to protect the patient's life or health. This proposal requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to become part of the state constitution.
HB 5573 creates a new Rural Medical Residency Program focused specifically on obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) for rural hospitals in West Virginia. The bill directs the Rural Health Initiative to fund this program using existing Rural Health Initiative resources or other legislative appropriations. It prioritizes OB/GYN care - a critical need in rural "health care deserts" where access is limited - as part of the state’s strategy to address shortages of primary care physicians. The program will operate within rural hospitals and align with the Rural Health Initiative Act’s goals to improve health care accessibility in underserved areas.
SB 805 adds "abortion pill reversal" to West Virginia's Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program, allowing funding for this service through eligible pregnancy help organizations. The bill defines "abortion pill reversal" as using progesterone to counteract the abortion pill (mifepristone) and specifies that only organizations that do not support or perform abortions can receive program funds for this purpose. Abortion industry organizations are explicitly excluded from receiving these funds. This is a procedural change to the existing program's funding eligibility, not a new law restricting abortion access.
HB 5484 creates a new felony crime in West Virginia for conspiring to deny medical care to victims of sexual exploitation, assault, incest, or abuse. It directly affects individuals who work together (conspire) to block victims from accessing licensed medical treatment for injuries or conditions caused by these crimes. The bill establishes penalties of 5-10 years in prison, a $50,000 fine, or both for violations. This law specifically targets efforts to prevent victims from receiving necessary medical care following sexual offenses, without altering existing abortion laws.
HB 4467 amends West Virginia law to allow pregnant employees and new mothers working in public school systems to use their existing sick leave bank for maternity leave. It specifically prohibits county school boards from banning this use of sick leave for maternity purposes. The bill clarifies that school employees may contribute up to two days of personal leave annually to the sick leave bank, but cannot be forced to contribute. This policy change directly affects all full-time public school employees in West Virginia who are pregnant or have newborn children.
This bill prohibits the distribution or prescription of "abortifacients" (drugs intended to cause abortion) within West Virginia. It directly affects licensed medical professionals (like doctors and pharmacists) and anyone distributing such drugs, with violations carrying felony penalties (3-10 years imprisonment) for non-professionals and potential license revocation for medical providers. Key provisions include banning the mailing, sale, or dissemination of abortifacients without a valid prescription, requiring medical professionals to attest to compliance, and creating a civil lawsuit option for affected parties. The law includes exceptions for medical emergencies - defined as situations where an abortion is necessary to prevent serious risk of death or life-threatening impairment to the patient.
