Expanding pilot program to implement involuntary commitment process
SB 741 expands the pilot program for involuntary commitment processes to include additional counties: Cabell, Berkeley, Hampshire, Morgan, Ohio, and Wood. The bill requires mental health centers in these counties to provide timely evaluations (in-person or via video) for potential commitment and explain the process to affected individuals. It also mandates quarterly audits of commitment applications to ensure clinical justification, with findings kept confidential. This bill directly affects mental health centers, courts, law enforcement, and individuals subject to involuntary commitment in the expanded counties.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2026
Signed Jun 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Committee Substitute
→
Enrolled Committee Substitute
·
3 edits
·
Apr 1, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled, adding official signatures and certification lines required for it to become law. The text of the substantive sections regarding pilot programs and audits remained largely the same, with minor formatting adjustments and a correction to a county name (Ohio Hampshire to Hampshire).
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the pilot program locations was slightly modified by removing the word 'Ohio' before 'Hampshire' county, clarifying the list of participating counties.
ENFORCEMENT
Added formal certification lines for the Clerks of the Senate and House, and signatures for the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Governor, indicating the bill is now in its final enrolled form.
TECHNICAL
Corrected a typo in the list of pilot counties by removing the redundant word 'Ohio' from 'Ohio Hampshire' to read 'Hampshire'.
Changed the bill title from 'A BILL' to 'AN ACT' and adjusted the sponsor list to include Senators Helton, Thorne, and Takubo with a new effective date of 90 days from passage.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 2, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026
How they voted
31–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Mar 2, 2026
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
7
Committee
8
Apr 1, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 443)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
To House Finance
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
To Finance
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 276)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
To Finance
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
To Health and Human Resources
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
To Health and Human Resources then Finance
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Brian Helton
RRepublican
Co
Darren Thorne
RRepublican
Co
Tom Takubo
RRepublican
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