2019 Archived Legislation
The West Virginia 2019 Legislative Session ended on March 9, 2019.
Senate Bill 86 — Requiring Free Menstrual Products in Schools
Sponsor: Bob Beach (D-13)
Bill Text
Providing necessary products for free in public spaces like schools aims to minimize menstruation stigma and make sure girls don’t miss school because of lack of access to period products. A similar bill (HB 2464) was also introduced in the House.
Last Action: Passed Senate 30-1 on 2/23/19; Sent to House Education Committee
Senate Bill 72 — Creating a Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights
Sponsor: Mike Woelfel (D-05)
Bill Text
Now more than ever it is critical that victims of sexual assault have and are able to exercise all of the rights and privileges they deserve, and this bill would help to make that a reality. A companion bill, HB 3111, was introduced in the House.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
House Bill 2500 — Removing Tax on Menstrual Products
Sponsor: Andrew Byrd (D-35)
Bill Text
Hygiene products are a necessity to ensuring that people with periods have the ability to make their own health care decisions (and beyond) and reach their full potential. When people with periods have affordable and reliable access to the full range of reproductive health care, including period products, it helps them control their lives, health, and future. A companion bill, SB 582, was introduced in the Senate.
Last Action: Sent to House Judiciary Committee on 1/17/19
Senate Bill 306 — Establishing Family and Medical Leave Insurance Benefits Act
Sponsor: Richard Lindsay (D-08)
Bill Text
This bill would guarantee West Virginia workers the ability to keep their jobs and maintain their financial security while caring for themselves or family members. Paid family medical leave laws guarantee workers access to the paid time they need to recover from a serious illness or to care for a sick family member or a new child.
Last Action: Sent to Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on 1/15/19
House Bill 2308 — The Katherine Johnson Fair Pay Act
Sponsor: Barbara Fleischauer (D-51)
Bill Text
This legislation will prohibit pay secrecy policies, as well as allow employees to choose whether or not they want to share their past wage history with new employers. Both of these will address contributing factors to the current state of pay inequality in WV, which as the third worst gender pay gap in the nation. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate.
Last Action: Sent to House Industry and Labor Committee on 1/11/19
Senate Bill 359 — Creating Youth Mental Health Protection Act
Sponsor: Michael Maroney (R-02)
Bill Text
This legislation will ban "conversion therapy". These so-called therapies, also known as reparative treatments, rely on the assumption that sexual orientation can be changed or "cured" -- an idea debunked and discredited by major medical associations in the UK, the United States and elsewhere.
Last Action: Sent to Judiciary Committee on 1/9/19
House Bill 2153 — Establishing the Minority Health Advisory Team
Sponsor: Larry Rowe (D-36)
Bill Text
Recent reports from the Center for Disease Control reveal that West Virginia has five cities (Logan, Hinton, West Side of Charleston, West Huntington, and Salem) that rank in the top 50 cities in America with the lowest life expectancy. These communities have a lifespan of 14-22 years fewer than the national average. This is simply unacceptable, and we must implement this task force to address this crisis.
Last Action: Sent to Committee on Health and Human Resources on 1/9/19
Senate Bill 252 — Enhancing the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs
Sponsor: Glenn Jeffries (D-08)
Bill Text
This is an office that the governor appointed former Delegate Jill Upson to when she lost her re-election bid. It was established to provide a way for discussion of issues affecting people of color in West Virginia and provide support services. Upson’s appointment to the role was a purely political one, and she does not have a track record of caring about these issues. This bill is necessary to hold the office and Upson accountable.
Last Action: Sent to Government Organization Committee on 1/11/19
House Bill 2583 — Family Planning Access Act
Sponsor: Jordan Hill (R-41)
Bill Text
This bill will permit a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive under a standing prescription drug order.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
House Bill 3038 — Increasing access to contraceptive drugs, devices, and procedures
Sponsor: Mike Pushkin (D-37)
Bill Text
This bill will require all insurance providers to cover contraceptives for up to a year.
Last Action: Sent to House Health and Human Resources Committee on 2/12/19
House Bill 3109 — Implementing the Statewide Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Tracking System
Sponsor: Sammi Brown (D-65)
Bill Text
This bill will ensure that Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits are tracked and processed in a timely manner. Timely testing is vital to solving cases, punishing offenders, bringing justice to victims, and preventing future crimes.
Last Action: Sent to House Judiciary Committee on 2/12/19
House Bill 3110 — Removing Statue of Limitation for crimes involving minors
Sponsor: Sammi Brown (D-65)
Bill Text
This bill will remove limitation to a prosecution if the crime involved a child under the age of 18 years even if the crime is a misdemeanor.
Last Action: Sent to House Judiciary Committee on 2/12/19
House Bill 2074 - Life at Conception Act
Sponsor: Pat McGeehan (R-01)
Bill Text
This bill recognizes life beginning at conception, giving full human rights to pre-fertilization cells. This would be an outright ban on abortion and most common contraceptive methods. (This bill has been carried over from the 2018 Legislative Session)
Last Action: Sent to House Judiciary Committee on 1/9/19
Senate Bill 451 - "Comprehensive Education Reform"
Sponsor: Patricia Rucker (R-16)
Bill Text
This unpopular omnibus bill would funnel money from the public education system to support private schools and authorize charter schools, as well as weakening school employees’ ability to fight back through strikes. We stand with West Virginia teachers and students.
Last Action: Passed Senate; Sent to House Finance Committee on 2/11/19
House Bill 2915 - Fetal Heartbeat Ban
Sponsor: Evan Worrell (R-18)
Bill Text
This bill bans abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Because this may happen as early as six weeks gestation – before most women even realize they’re pregnant – this bill would effectively ban safe, legal abortion in West Virginia.
Last Action: Sent to House Health and Human Resources Committee on 2/8/19
House Bill 2801 - Performance of Abortions Limited
Sponsor: Kayla Kessenger (R-32)
Bill Text
This bill limits the scope of practice for nurses, by requiring abortions to be performed by a licensed physician.
Last Action: Sent to House Judiciary Committee on 2/8/19
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