The House Health and Human Resources Committee met to discuss several bills, advancing some to the mark-up and passage phase for further consideration, while reporting others to the House with a recommendation that they do pass.

HB4196 – Medication-Assisted Treatment Program / Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

House Bill 4196 would amend the Medication-Assisted Treatment Program Licensing Act to require licensed programs to offer long-lasting reversible contraception (LARC) to patients receiving methadone or suboxone treatment.

The legislation ensures that patients have access to LARC directly at the treatment facility.

The committee reported the bill to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

HB4335 – Concerning Medicaid Providers

House Bill 4335 proposes changes to Medicaid provider enrollment and credentialing by setting expedited timelines, standardizing requirements across managed care organizations, and directing the creation of a unified statewide electronic credentialing system.

The committee reported the bill to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

HB4021 – Bring Them Home Fund / Child Welfare Facilities

House Bill 4021 would create the Bring Them Home Fund and establish guidelines for distributing funds to renovate existing state-owned properties to support the expansion of West Virginia’s child welfare provider network.

The bill would also grant authority to promulgate legislative rules related to the program.

The presenter noted that out-of-state placements may limit contact with family and support networks for children already experiencing a crisis.

The presenter stated that approximately 350 West Virginia children are currently placed out of state, at an estimated cost of about $2,000 per child, which is higher than the cost of in-state care.

Del. Mike Pushkin ( D – Kanawha, 054), raised concerns about concentrating many children in a single facility rather than using the funds to purchase or renovate smaller, home-like settings.

The presenter noted that children generally experience better outcomes in smaller, home-like settings.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and passage phase for further consideration.

HB4022 – CPS Worker Allocation

House Bill 4022 would require the allocation and assignment of Child Protective Services (CPS) workers by county and mandate that any changes to these allocations be reported.

The bill is intended to ensure transparency and oversight in staffing decisions for CPS personnel.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and passage phase for further consideration.

HB4354 – Foster Child Clothing Allowance

House Bill 4354 would establish requirements for an adequate wardrobe and approved necessities for children removed from their homes and placed in legal custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The bill also sets forth payment methods for these items and is intended to standardize clothing allowances for foster children.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and passage phase for further consideration.

The Committee on Energy & Public Works met this afternoon.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 4008 was advanced to the floor. The bill allows the West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program to provide micro-grants of up to $100,000 to sites that are at least five acres and up to $250,000 that are over 20 acres.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 4410 clarifies the definition of “on-track equipment” to include “any tender, motor unit, freight or passenger car, or other on-track equipment used, operated, or employed upon railroad tracks, including all maintenance of way equipment used to inspect, maintain, and repair the rail system.” This clarifies that vehicle drivers should not get around any crossing gate or barrier when such equipment is visibly approaching on the track.

House Bill 4437 allows Gold Star parents to receive a free Gold Star vehicle registration for personal use.

House Bill 4471 was sent to a subcommittee.

The Committee on Government Organization met this afternoon.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 4005 was advanced to the House floor. The bill, the Workforce Development Act of 2026, clarifies the types of employment a person under 18 is prohibited from performing.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 4015 extends the Tourism Development Act Credit to lodging facilities. To obtain credit, the facility must increase the sales tax base.

House Bill 4018 authorizes the State Resiliency Officer to disburse funds from the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to better enhance flood prevention, safety, and protection, upon the approval of the State Resiliency Office Board.

House Bill 4025 was moved to a future agenda.

The House Judiciary and Subcommittees met Monday morning to discuss House Bills 4352, 4358, 4433, 4044, 4364, 4415, 4169, 4473, and 4484.

House Judiciary

HB4352 prohibits the usage of surveillance and recordings in bedrooms and bathrooms of foster children under any circumstance, with the exception of children with medical diagnoses, and devices cannot be hidden if done so.

The bill was recommended for passage.

HB4358 establishes the Pilot Program for Public Guardian Ad Litem Services.

The bill was recommended for passage.

HB4433 amends the concepts of human trafficking and adds laws against human smuggling

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase, where members will discuss potential amendments before deciding to move the legislation forward.

Courts

HB4044 would amend current law to require hair follicle drug testing of parents or guardians in substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect.

The bill authorizes circuit courts to use the testing to assess controlled substance use over the prior 90 days and requires a neurological evaluation when the child is two months old or younger. Attempts to tamper with hair to avoid testing would be treated as a positive result.

The bill was reported to the Judiciary.

HB4477 would grant the West Virginia Attorney General prosecutorial authority over county and municipal elected officials in cases involving alleged election fraud, corruption, or related misconduct.

The bill has been scheduled for a mark-up and discussion, and will be taken up at the committee’s next meeting.

Homeland Security

HB4364 would amend and reenact state law relating to juvenile jurisdiction on military installations.

The bill addresses concurrent juvenile jurisdiction and would allow exclusive federal legislative jurisdiction to be transferred back to the state in cases involving juveniles.

The bill was reported to the Standing Committee on Judiciary.

HB4415 would create a state-level offense for attempting to smuggle contraband into federal correctional institutions.

Lead sponsor of the bill, Del. David Green (R – McDowell, 036), said the legislation was introduced in response to over a dozen attempted contraband smuggling incidents over the past two years, including the use of drones.

The bill would allow the state to prosecute individuals who attempt to bring contraband into federal facilities.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase, where members will discuss potential amendments before deciding to move the legislation forward.

House Legal Services

HB4169 would amend and reenact state law to align mental health examination requirements with those used for involuntary hospitalization proceedings.

The bill addresses individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law solely due to a prior adjudication related to mental health status.

The bill was reported to the Standing Committee on the Judiciary.

HB4473 would authorize the West Virginia Supreme Court to establish rules allowing for the limited practice of law by nonlawyers. The bill grants the court the discretion to establish parameters and limitations for such practice.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase for further consideration.

HB4484 would give county commissions the same authority as municipalities to sell or lease property, providing counties with greater flexibility in managing local assets.

The committee advanced the bill to the markup and discussion phase.

House Finance met this morning to consider two originating bills. The rules were suspended to hear the bill and consider it on the same day.

House Bill 4574 creates a reserve fund, the Temporary Shortfall Supplement Fund for the County Board of Education, for financially distressed counties that have fallen below five percent of available funding. The funding provided to the distressed county must be paid back to the state. The county would be required to present its financials to the State Board of Education upon request and follow all requirements through WVEIS. A report must be submitted to LOCEA after the county’s reserve fund falls below 5 percent for more than 60 days.

This bill stems from a county board of education that is unable to meet payroll due to fiscal problems. County BOEs are supposed to have two months of operational expenses in reserve in case of an emergency. Essential operating expenses include personnel, utilities, and contracts. The State Board of Education has taken over control of Hancock County Schools due to financial concerns. Two other counties at risk are Roane and Randolph. In the case of Hancock County, one-time funds were used to increase staffing, resulting in staffing overages per the school aide formula, and general revenue was used to enter into a turf lease. During this time, certain WEVIS functions were turned off, resulting in clean audits. The Board of Education and the Department of Education were unaware of these issues until late 2025. Hancock had a $5 million balance and clean audits. Other counties could be at risk if they do not begin making tough staffing cuts. The bill advanced to the House floor.

House Bill 4575, an appropriation bill, funds the Temporary Shortfall Supplement Fund for the County Board of Education with $8 million of surplus money. The bill advanced to the House floor.

The committee also heard from the State Police about their budget. In this fiscal year, $800,000 will be used to purchase new weapons equipped with optics to support critical incidents. Another $445,000 will be used to purchase vests.

Future costs include about $7.5 for 470 body cams and in-car camera systems. Additionally, facility security upgrades will cost $2.6 million, plus $200,000 annually. The Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposes a decrease, with costs for improving radio communications in the quiet zone of Pocahontas and for a WV CPRD actuary.

The committee will meet this afternoon to hear about the National Guard’s Budget.

The House subcommittee on Educational Choice engaged in discussion about charter schools in the state with local agencies.

The subcommittee spoke with Casey Sacks, president of BridgeValley Community Technical College, about their current WIN Academy program.

The WIN Academy program accepts high school juniors and seniors and places them into their accelerated degree program for nursing or advanced manufacturing. The academy is free for students.

In the 2025-2026 school year, students earned more than 1200 college credits. This has resulted in $270,000 in tuition savings.

This program fulfills West Virginia graduation requirements, on top of gathering college credits for students. West Virginia students who are at least sixteen years old are eligible for the academy through West Virginia’s open enrollment laws.

After Sacks’ presentation, Tim Conzett, assistant superintendent for the Office of Data Management and Information Systems at the West Virginia Department of Education, provided updates regarding the school choice parent portal.

The school choice parent portal, once it is available to the public, will streamline processes for homeschool students. These processes include filling out notices of intent, containing assessment results, and meeting with teachers for portfolio analysis.

The organization is looking forward to making this portal available as soon as possible for the public.

Lastly, Tom Franta, the founding executive director for the Mountaineer Charter School Alliance, provided information about the newly formed alliance and the goals moving forward.

The Mountaineer Charter School Alliance plans to grow and create a unified charter school system, focusing on maintaining regulatory flexibility, strong student outcome-based activity, and unifying force to bring charter schools together. The organization also plans to build community trust and transparency.