SB 904 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Clarifying requirements for Commissioner of Bureau for Public Health

This bill clarifies the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Department of Health, the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, and the State Health Officer in West Virginia. It amends numerous existing state laws to provide clearer definitions of these officials' roles and authority across various health-related areas. The changes aim to resolve ambiguities in current statutes without adding new powers or responsibilities to these positions. The legislation affects state health administration and the officials who oversee public health programs and emergency response coordination.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 24, 2025 Last action Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten from an omnibus bill amending over 50 code sections to a focused bill amending only one section (§16-1-5) regarding the State Health Officer. The original version addressed multiple agencies including the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the State Emergency Response Commission, while the new version concentrates solely on clarifying the roles and appointment authority for the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health and the State Health Officer.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed from a multi-agency reform affecting health, safety, and emergency response commissions to a single provision clarifying the relationship and qualifications between the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health and the State Health Officer.

SCOPE

Removed provisions affecting the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, including membership composition, interpreter requirements, and appointment procedures.

Removed provisions affecting the State Emergency Response Commission, including member composition, appointment terms, and meeting procedures.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the appointment authority for the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health from the Governor to the Secretary of the Department of Health.

Added specific qualification requirements stating the Commissioner must hold a doctorate degree in public health administration unless designated as State Health Officer.

Added requirement that the State Health Officer must be licensed to practice medicine under West Virginia law.

Changed the employment status from fixed terms to serving at the will and pleasure of the Secretary of the Department of Health.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 29, 2025

How they voted

30–2

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 33

Mar 29, 2025

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

28 Yea 2 Nay 1

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

With amendment, do pass

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

To House Health and Human Resources

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

To Health and Human Resources

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Mar 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 240)

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

To Health and Human Resources

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors