West Virginia Bills

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4489: Authorizing the DMV to issue certain vital records in the custody of the state registrar

HB 4489 allows West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue birth, death, marriage, and divorce records currently held by the State Registrar. The DMV must follow the State Registrar's rules when issuing these records and can collect fees for them, which must be sent monthly to the State Registrar. The bill requires the DMV and the Division of Health and Human Resources to create a Memorandum of Understanding to implement this service. This change directly affects residents needing vital records and state agencies managing vital statistics.

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4770: Establishing limitations on the use of artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence technology to deliver mental health care, with exceptions for administrative support functions

HB 4770 prohibits the use of AI companions (systems designed to simulate human relationships through personalized, ongoing emotional interactions) in delivering mental health therapy services. It requires explicit, written consent for any AI use in mental health care, banning such tools from diagnosing, treating, or claiming to treat conditions. The law applies to all health insurance policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2027, affecting mental health providers and insurers. Exceptions allow AI for administrative tasks (e.g., scheduling) but not for direct therapy or emotional engagement.

Topics ✗ Healthcare ✗ Technology

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4641: Relating to codifying the guidelines for nutritionally adequate school breakfasts and lunches

HB 4641 (the "Feed to Achieve Act") requires West Virginia county school boards to provide nutritionally adequate breakfasts and lunches meeting current federal standards, directly affecting all elementary students. It mandates limits on added sugar and sodium in school meals based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and phases in free breakfasts for elementary students where feasible using existing funds like donations or federal programs. Schools must adopt approved breakfast delivery systems (e.g., "Breakfast in the Classroom") and track participation rates, while the state reports annually on program impacts to legislative committees. The bill codifies existing USDA meal patterns without creating new federal funding requirements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 685: Creating Natural Resources Anti-Commandeering Act

West Virginia's SB 685, the Natural Resources Anti-Commandeering Act, prohibits state agencies, local governments, and their employees from enforcing or assisting with federal regulations on coal, oil, gas, timber, or related extractive resources that conflict with West Virginia law. It bans the use of state funds for such federal enforcement activities and requires the state Attorney General to legally challenge federal actions they deem unconstitutional under anti-commandeering principles (citing Supreme Court cases like *Printz v. United States*). The bill also mandates the Attorney General to publish guidance for state agencies on resisting federal enforcement efforts and to pursue legal action using state funds. This applies directly to state officials, law enforcement, and local government entities handling natural resource regulations. The law focuses on preventing state cooperation with federal rules, not altering existing state resource management.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4467: Relating to maternity leave for school employees

HB 4467 amends West Virginia law to allow pregnant employees and new mothers working in public school systems to use their existing sick leave bank for maternity leave. It specifically prohibits county school boards from banning this use of sick leave for maternity purposes. The bill clarifies that school employees may contribute up to two days of personal leave annually to the sick leave bank, but cannot be forced to contribute. This policy change directly affects all full-time public school employees in West Virginia who are pregnant or have newborn children.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 713: Providing 10 percent raise for all public school staff

SB 713 would provide a 10 percent pay raise for all public school staff in West Virginia, including teachers and other school employees. The bill amends state law to update the minimum salary schedule for educators, setting new base pay levels based on experience and education for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. This change requires state funding to cover the increased costs for public school districts. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Education and Finance committees.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 710: Eliminating double taxation on foreign income at state level

SB 710 allows West Virginia residents who pay income tax to foreign countries on foreign earnings to claim a credit against their West Virginia state income tax. This prevents double taxation by reducing the state tax owed on that foreign income, applying only when federal tax rules would otherwise cause duplicate taxation. The credit covers income taxed by foreign governments and is available for taxable years through July 1, 2070, after which it expires. The bill directly affects West Virginia residents with foreign-sourced income who paid taxes to other countries.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 707: Relating to crimes involving abuse or desecration of human remains

This bill creates new criminal offenses for intentionally abusing or desecrating human remains, including mutilation, dismemberment, or unauthorized disposal of a deceased body or cremated remains. It establishes a base felony offense (1-5 years in prison or up to $5,000 fine) and an aggravated offense (2-10 years or $2,000-$10,000 fine) when the act involves concealment, obstruction, commercial exploitation, or connection to other felonies. The law applies to both bodies and cremated remains but exempts lawful activities by medical professionals, funeral directors, law enforcement, and researchers acting within legal authority. Prosecutions may occur in the county where the conduct happened or where the remains were discovered.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 709: Relating to collection of special emergency ambulance service fee by county commission

SB 709 amends West Virginia law to clarify how county commissions collect unpaid special emergency ambulance service fees. Currently, counties impose these fees to fund emergency ambulance services, but the process for recovering delinquent payments was unclear. The bill allows counties to use magistrate court or judgment liens to collect overdue fees without paying court costs themselves, and shifts all court fees to the person who owes the debt if a court rules in the county's favor. County commissions may also appoint a representative to handle collection efforts. This change streamlines fee recovery while keeping the fee's purpose - funding emergency ambulance services - unchanged.

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5051: To modify the teacher retirement system so that Tier 2 teachers may use annual/sick leave towards retirement

HB 5051 would amend West Virginia's Teachers Retirement System to allow Tier 2 teachers to convert their accrued annual and sick leave into additional retirement service credit. Currently, the system permits some employees to use leave for retirement benefits at a two-days-of-leave-to-one-day-of-service ratio, but Tier 2 teachers were excluded from this provision. This bill would extend that benefit to Tier 2 teachers, enabling them to earn extra retirement credit by using unused leave. The change would directly affect current and future Tier 2 teachers in West Virginia's public school system, increasing their retirement benefits through existing leave balances.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5057: To create the Rural Mobile Health and Mental Health Access Act.

HB 5057 creates the Rural Mobile Health Services Program to expand access to essential health and mental health care in West Virginia's rural and underserved areas. The bill authorizes the Department of Health to award grants to eligible providers like community health centers, schools, and local health departments for mobile clinics and telehealth services. Grant funds cover mobile unit costs, telehealth technology, and staffing for services including primary care, mental health, and school-based health clinics. Applications that demonstrate collaboration between health departments, schools, or local governments receive priority for funding.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5050: Make all state inmates regardless of sex members of the state convict road force

HB 5050 amends West Virginia law to remove the gender restriction from the state convict road force program, making all state inmates - including women - eligible to work on road construction and maintenance crews under the state highways commissioner. Previously, the program only included "male persons" convicted of felonies. The bill expands the existing program, which requires inmates to work on state roads, quarries, and material production facilities, to apply to all incarcerated individuals regardless of sex. This change directly affects all state inmates serving sentences for felonies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Bill results