The West Virginia House of Delegates advanced House Bills 4137, 4629, 4740, and 4951 to the Senate.
House Bill 4137 would update existing code about the West Virginia Law Institute. The institute was established to provide support services to the legislature and the West Virginia University College of Law. These updates address issues with membership based on congressional districts, how vacancies are filled, and would exempt the Institute from open meeting laws.
House Bill 4629 would allow higher education institutions to give people who are 18 to 21 tobacco products if they are conducting a scientific study or research. This only applies to research that is medical and furthering efforts for prevention and tobacco regulation.
House Bill 4740 would make changes to ensure consistency between West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program (WVRHTP) and the State of West Virginia’s commitments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This bill would allow the WV Rural Health Transformation Program to not have to use the Division of Purchasing and use the Department of Health to process their spending.
House Bill 4951 would require MDs and DOs to complete continuing education and nutrition education under the guidelines of the WVRHTP.
The West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program was established to improve healthcare across the state, develop the economy, build a more robust workforce, and help West Virginians with their health outcomes.
In the floor session, debate occurred over HB 4951 with concerns about government regulation within the medical field. Under this bill, this would change the guidelines of continuing education to include medical education pertaining to nutrition.
Delegate Shawn Fluharty (D – Ohio, 5) asked Delegate Evan Worrell (R – Cabell, 23) about the current decision making the medical board has and if they could do this themselves. Worrell said the medical board does have the power currently to decide these guidelines themselves.
“This is a government mandate. This is big government walking into the board of medicine instead of allowing professionals to make decisions on the continuing education aspect,” Fluharty said. “I think we let the medical professionals decide what’s medically necessary and not the government mandating something for continuing education purposes.”
In response, Worrell said, “This initiative is a part of the Rural Health Transformation Program application, and what I would say is the professionals will be making the determination of what will be taken. The board of medicine and osteopaths will decide what nutrition education will be for the members. I do trust those professionals to make those decisions.”
House Bill 4951 advanced to the Senate with 58 in favor and 35 against.
Bills introduced can be found here.
Resolutions introduced can be found here.
Committee Meetings, Today February 3
- Sub. Com on Banking and Insurance at 1 p.m. in Room 460M
- Sub. Com on Local Governments at 1 p.m. in Room 215E
- Sub. Com on Public Education at 1 p.m. in Room 432M
- Sub. Com on Educational Choice at 1:40 p.m. in Room 432M
- Sub. Com on Government Administration at 2 p.m. in Room 215E
- Sub. Com on Higher Education at 2:20 p.m. in Room 432M
- Health and Human Resources at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E
- Sub. Com on Human Services at 4:30 p.m. in Room 215E
- Sub. Com on Revenue at 5 p.m. in Room 460M
Committee Meetings, Wednesday February 4
- Sub. Com on Appropriations at 8:30 a.m. in Room 460M
- Finance at 9 a.m. in Room 460M
- Judiciary at 9 a.m. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com on Courts at 9:45 a.m. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com on Homeland Security at 10 a.m. in Room 410M
- Sub. Com on Legal Services at 10:15 a.m. in Room 410M
- Education at 1 p.m. in Room 432M
- Sub. Com on Public Health at 3 p.m. in Room 215E
- Energy and Public Works at 3 p.m. in Room 410M
The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
