Bill Watch List / 2026 Session

Updated: 4/4/2026 10:43 PM

SUPPORT:

• HB5101 – The Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Updates the definition of domestic violence and increases penalties for offenses such as strangulation, suffocation, and domestic assault. It also prevents multiple charges for the same act under different laws.
• HB5484 – Protecting Access to Medical Care for Sexual Assault Victims – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Guarantees the right of sexual offense victims to seek medical or forensic care without interference. It creates felony penalties for using force or coercion to block treatment or to force an illegal abortion.

• SB906 – Authorization of FDA-Approved Psilocybin Under State Law – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Allows psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”) to be legally prescribed and distributed in West Virginia if it is approved by the FDA and rescheduled by the DEA, aligning state law with federal approval for medical use.

• HB5214 – Drug Testing Requirement Before Child Reunification – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Requires parents with confirmed abuse or neglect findings to pass a drug test before being reunited with their children, and updates court procedures for reunification, permanency planning, and termination of parental rights.

• SB531 – First Amendment Reservation Act – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Prohibits state agencies from contracting with companies that use media bias or reliability rating systems for advertising placement, requiring bidders to certify compliance in order to prevent viewpoint discrimination in state-funded advertising.

• HB4433 – Strengthening Human Trafficking Laws – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Increases penalties for human trafficking and related crimes, protects minors who are victims from being prosecuted, updates legal definitions, and bars individuals who are in the country illegally from receiving restitution under human trafficking laws.

• SB200 – Enhanced Penalties for Assaults on Public Officials and Service Animals – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Increases criminal penalties for assaulting certain public officials, emergency personnel, and public safety animals. It establishes stronger prison terms, fines, and restitution requirements for injuries or deaths involving these individuals or animals.

• HB4412 – Liability for Distribution of Sexual Material Harmful to Minors – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Requires age verification to prevent minors from accessing harmful sexual material and imposes civil penalties and liability on publishers and distributors who fail to comply.

• SR10 – Recognizing Day of the Bible at Capitol – 2026
  1/22/2026 Adopted by the Senate – RESOLUTION. Recognizes January 22, 2026 as the Day of the Bible, acknowledges the Bible’s historical, cultural, and moral influence on American society, notes the 1782 publication of the first English-language Bible in America, and encourages reflection on its role in personal character, civic life, and religious freedom.

• SB197 – Increasing Penalties for Crimes Against Minors – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Increases criminal penalties for offenses against minors, including sexual assault, abuse, neglect resulting in death, and exploitation. It sets stronger prison terms and fines to deter these crimes.

• HB5528 – Protecting Home Address Privacy for Public Officials – 2026
  3/14/2026 SIGNED into law – Allows certain public officials to request the removal of their home address and personal contact information from public records. It also provides legal remedies if agencies fail to comply while allowing limited disclosures in specific situations.