Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5021: Relating to the limited circumstances in which a registered nurse may administer anesthetics.

This bill clarifies that registered nurses in West Virginia may administer anesthetics only when ordered by a physician in an acute care setting, such as a hospital. It does not expand nurses' scope of practice but specifies the limited context where this current authority applies. The change affects registered nurses working in acute care facilities, ensuring they operate within defined parameters. The amendment updates existing law to explicitly restrict this practice to acute care environments.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts registered nurses' scope to acute care settings under physician order, limiting where anesthetics may be administered without expanding access or coverage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Medical Licensing

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 775: Prohibiting state entities from engaging in activity related to sexual orientation

SB 775 prohibits all West Virginia state government entities - including public schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and social services offices - from promoting or facilitating discussions, policies, programs, or medical procedures related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning. It bans the use of state funds for gender transition treatments (such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy), referrals for such care, and materials promoting these topics in state-funded institutions. Enforcement includes potential termination for employees, funding suspension for violating entities, and allowing West Virginia residents to sue for violations. The bill directly affects state-funded education, healthcare, and social services by restricting content and funding related to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBans school curriculum discussions on sexual orientation/gender topics, prohibits related materials/funding in public schools/universities, directly restricting educational content and access.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBans state funding for gender transition treatments (hormone therapy, puberty blockers) and prohibits state healthcare facilities from providing such care, restricting access to medical services.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5645: Relating to Medicaid program integrity and work requirements

HB 5645 would impose work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP (food stamp) eligibility in West Virginia. It limits SNAP benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents to three months in a 36-month period unless they work, participate in job training, or volunteer at least 20 hours weekly. The bill requires verification of citizenship status, prohibits non-citizens from receiving SNAP benefits, and mandates hospitals to report certain patient information to the Department of Human Services. It also includes provisions for counties to qualify for work requirement exemptions based on unemployment data, though all counties will lose such exemptions after October 2022. The bill affects low-income adults seeking Medicaid or SNAP benefits who do not have children.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes work requirements on Medicaid, restricting eligibility and access to healthcare coverage per bill's explicit provisions.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill prohibits non-citizens from SNAP benefits and mandates citizenship verification, restricting immigrant access to state-administered food assistance services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5591: Relating to dispensing of ivermectin

HB 5591 (West Virginia) allows pharmacists to dispense ivermectin to patients without a prescription, provided they follow standardized protocols established by the state pharmacy board. It protects pharmacists from criminal, civil, or professional disciplinary action when dispensing under these protocols. The bill directly affects pharmacists and patients seeking ivermectin for human use, removing the current prescription requirement. The pharmacy board may create specific rules for implementation through the legislative process.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes prescription requirement for ivermectin, bypassing medical oversight and undermining standard healthcare safety protocols for medication dispensing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5440: Allowing healthcare workers to refuse to perform procedures related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning for religious or conscientious objection

HB 5440 would allow healthcare workers - including doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists - to refuse to perform or assist with medical procedures related to gender transition (such as hormone therapy or surgeries) based on religious or moral objections. It protects these providers from workplace discrimination, retaliation, or penalties for such refusals. The bill defines "healthcare provider" broadly to cover all medical staff and institutions, and specifies that refusal to provide gender transition-related care cannot be considered discrimination if based on conscience. The law aims to shield healthcare professionals from being forced to participate in procedures conflicting with their beliefs. This bill is currently in the introduction stage, referred to the Health and Human Resources committee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access to gender transition care by enabling healthcare workers to refuse services based on religious objections, directly limiting healthcare access for transgender patients.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 748: Requiring parental notification of school-based dispensaries of contraceptives to minors

SB 748 requires West Virginia public schools to notify a minor's parent or guardian before dispensing any FDA-approved contraceptive (such as birth control pills or devices) to a minor. This bill directly affects public school health services and minors aged 18 or younger who receive contraceptives at school. The key provision mandates written parental notification prior to dispensing, with "contraceptive" defined as any drug or device approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy. The bill does not alter access to contraceptives but adds a parental notification step for school-based dispensing. (Introduced February 5, 2026; referred to Health and Human Resources Committee).

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates parental notification before school-based contraceptive dispensing, restricting minor access to healthcare services. Directly limits patient access to contraceptive care per healthcare topic definition.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5442: Relating to training on the uses and indications of certain drugs for pregnant women.

HB 5442 requires hospitals and healthcare providers in West Virginia to complete training on the uses and risks of progesterone and mifepristone for pregnant women, specifically focusing on medication abortion (referred to as "chemical abortion" in the bill). The training covers how progesterone can counteract mifepristone and how to identify/treat complications from medication abortion, developed by the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health. Hospitals providing gynecologic, obstetric, or emergency care must ensure their licensed staff complete this training, with restrictions preventing contracts with organizations defined as part of the "abortion industry." The bill does not change abortion access but mandates standardized education for healthcare providers.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRequires training on counteracting mifepristone (used in medication abortion) and complications, restricting access to abortion services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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

HB 5112: Prohibiting laws requiring person to receive or use medical products

HB 5112 prohibits any West Virginia law from requiring residents to receive or use medical products, such as vaccines or treatments. It directly affects all West Virginia residents and ensures no penalties (like fines) or loss of benefits (such as services or programs) can be imposed for refusing a medical product or declining to disclose its use. The bill amends health code §16-3-1 to state that no law may coerce medical product use, penalize refusal, or deny benefits based on refusal or disclosure. This applies broadly to all medical products under state law, not limited to specific treatments. The law would override existing or future state mandates requiring medical products during public health emergencies.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits mandates for medical products (e.g., vaccines), restricting public health program enforcement and limiting state requirements for health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 731: Eliminating hepatitis-b and meningitis as required vaccines

SB 731 removes hepatitis-B and meningitis vaccines from West Virginia's mandatory school immunization requirements for students entering public, private, or parochial schools and state-regulated child care centers. The bill amends West Virginia Code §16-3-4 to delete these two vaccines from the list of required immunizations, which previously included chickenpox, measles, mumps, and others. This change aligns with updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations that no longer include hepatitis-B and meningococcal meningitis vaccines in the standard childhood schedule. The policy directly affects all students seeking enrollment in schools or childcare centers across West Virginia.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill removes mandatory hepatitis-B and meningitis vaccines from school requirements, weakening public health program enforcement per CDC alignment.90% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5184: Prohibiting expanding drug and alcohol treatment facilities and services in certain counties

HB 5184 would prohibit adding new licensed substance abuse treatment beds in any West Virginia county that already has more than 250 such beds. This directly affects counties meeting that bed threshold by restricting the expansion of drug and alcohol treatment facilities. The bill amends existing law to specifically bar new bed additions in these high-capacity counties, while exempting certain approved clinical trials for opioid treatment programs. It does not change rules for counties with fewer than 250 beds or affect existing facilities. The change creates a clear threshold limiting new treatment capacity in areas already serving high demand.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts new substance abuse treatment beds in high-capacity counties, limiting access to mental health services per bill's prohibition on expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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