SB 299 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Modifying WV regulations on pubertal modulation, hormonal therapy, and gender reassignment

SB 299 prohibits medical professionals in West Virginia from prescribing or dispensing "gender altering medication" (including puberty blockers and supraphysiologic hormone therapy) to patients under 18 years old. This directly affects doctors, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses who provide care to minors. The bill requires telehealth regulations to include this prohibition and mandates that violations result in revocation of professional licenses. It amends existing health codes to define these prohibited practices and establishes enforcement through the Attorney General. The law takes effect July 11, 2025.

Issues: ✗ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Aug 2025

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed Aug 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Enrolled Committee Substitute · 6 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was finalized as an Enrolled version, adding signatures from an additional Senator and a specific effective date of July 11, 2025. The most significant policy change is the removal of an exception that previously allowed physicians to prescribe puberty-blocking medication and hormones to minors under strict conditions; this exception is now entirely deleted. Additionally, the definition of 'Biological sex' was removed, and the definition of 'Gender transition' was simplified to remove references to biological sex.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding medical exemptions for minors was narrowed by removing the specific carve-out for treating severe gender dysphoria with hormones and puberty blockers.

DEFINITION

Removed the definition of 'Biological sex' entirely.

Simplified the definition of 'Gender transition' by removing the phrase 'corresponds to the person's biological sex'.

ELIGIBILITY

Deleted the entire subsection allowing physicians to provide puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy to minors with severe gender dysphoria under specific conditions.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated the summary description to clarify that violations require license revocation for specific medical professionals.

TIMELINE

Added a specific effective date of July 11, 2025, and included signatures from the Senate and House Clerks.

SCOPE

Added Senator Hart to the list of sponsors.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

31–2

Passed

Total votes 33

Mar 6, 2025

D Democratic2

2 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/30/2025

upper

Apr 12, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/30/2025 - Senate Journal

upper

Apr 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed House (Roll No. 570)

lower

Apr 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion for previous question adopted (Roll No. 569)

lower

Apr 12, 2025

Introduced

Amendment reported by the Clerk

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to move to 3rd with restricted right to amend adopted (Roll No. 483)

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

With amendment, do pass

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

To House Health and Human Resources

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title amendment adopted

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 67)

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported do pass, but first to Judiciary

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

To Health and Human Resources

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors