SB 482 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Certified Professional Midwife Licensing and Regulation

This bill establishes a state licensing system for certified professional midwives (CPMs) in West Virginia. It requires midwives to hold national certification from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and meet education, age, and credentialing standards to obtain a license. License holders must renew every two years by submitting proof of current NARM certification and participating in perinatal outcome data reporting. The law directly affects midwives seeking to legally provide maternity care in West Virginia, ensuring they meet standardized national and state requirements.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Last action Apr 5, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 10 edits

MAJOR

The bill was converted from an introduced version to a committee substitute version, adding substantive policy provisions for Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) licensing in West Virginia. The committee substitute version includes detailed definitions, licensing requirements, renewal procedures, scope of practice, medical testing authority, and disciplinary measures that were missing from the introduced version. The changes transform the bill from a placeholder framework into a functional regulatory statute.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a basic framework to include comprehensive regulatory provisions covering licensing, practice standards, medical authority, and disciplinary procedures for Certified Professional Midwives in West Virginia.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed licensing requirements including age, education, NARM certification, and application fee procedures

Added specific renewal procedures with evidence of current certification and data submission requirements

Added detailed risk assessment requirements including specific medical conditions requiring consultation or referral

Added medical record maintenance requirements and confidentiality provisions

Added reinstatement procedures for suspended or revoked licenses with specific fee structures and rehabilitation requirements

ENFORCEMENT

Added comprehensive disciplinary provisions including grounds for denial, revocation, and suspension of licenses

Added immunity provisions protecting other healthcare providers from liability for licensed midwife negligence

SCOPE

Added authority for licensed midwives to order medical tests, devices, and use medications (excluding Schedule I-V controlled substances)

Added exceptions allowing emergency care by healthcare providers and delegation to apprentices under supervision

DEFINITION

Added comprehensive definitions for key terms including Administer, Board, Client, Consultation, Collaboration, CPM, HIPAA, NARM, NACPM, Midwife Care, Referral, and Transfer

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

32–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 33

Mar 3, 2025

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

With amendment, do pass

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

To House Government Organization

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

To Government Organization

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 53)

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

To Government Organization

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor