Creating an emeritus license status for retired physicians, podiatric physicians and physician assistants who meet eligibility criteria.
HB 5325 creates an honorific "emeritus license" for retired physicians, podiatric physicians, and physician assistants in West Virginia who meet specific criteria. To qualify, applicants must have practiced in West Virginia for at least 10 years, fully retired from clinical practice, not be under investigation, and have no disciplinary history. The license is purely symbolic - it does not permit any clinical practice, exempts holders from continuing education requirements, and remains valid for life unless the holder returns to active practice or the board revokes it. The bill also includes a temporary provision for those whose licenses expired before July 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 9, 2026
Signed Jun 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed Version
→
Enrolled Version
·
4 edits
·
Mar 30, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an Engrossed version to the final Enrolled version, adding signatures, dates, and certification language required for the bill to become law. The substantive policy text regarding the emeritus physician license remains unchanged, though the Enrolled version includes a new rulemaking requirement for a voluntary relinquishment process and a minor formatting correction to a list of grounds for license revocation.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same; it still creates an honorific emeritus license for retired healthcare providers in West Virginia.
TECHNICAL
Added standard Enrolled version elements including passage dates, effect dates, and signatures from legislative officers and the Governor.
Removed the page number and navigation elements present in the Engrossed version.
REQUIREMENT
Added a specific requirement for the Board to establish a process for the voluntary relinquishment of an emeritus license.
Minor formatting change in the list of grounds for revocation, clarifying that a license subject to disciplinary surrender prior to retirement is also a ground for denial.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026
How they voted
33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Mar 11, 2026
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
31
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Mar 30, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 467)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee reference dispensed
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 305)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
To House Government Organization
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
To Government Organization
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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