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SB 663WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Prohibits Family Court Judges from Ordering Medical Procedures for Children Over Parental Objection

Original title: Allowing parents to refuse family court-ordered medical procedure of child against parents' wishes

Last action · January 29, 2026: To Health and Human ResourcesSponsor: Laura Chapman

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia Senate Bill 663 prohibits family court judges from ordering medical procedures or medical treatments for a child if a parent objects, except in cases involving .

Why it matters

Parents retain the legal authority to decline court-ordered medical procedures for their children in family court proceedings, unless is established.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

parents

Parents gain the legal right to refuse court-ordered medical procedures or treatments for their children, except in instances of medical neglect.

Directly affected

family court judges

Family court judges lose the authority to mandate medical procedures or treatments for children over a parent's objection.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a family court judge ever order medical treatment for a child against a parent's wishes?

Yes, an exception is explicitly provided for cases of .

What powers do family court judges retain under this bill?

Family court judges retain the authority to manage court business, summon witnesses, control , supervise evidence production, discipline attorneys, prevent abuse of process, and correct errors in records.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee
To Health and Human Resources
Jan 29, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee
To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary
Jan 29, 2026SenateIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Supreme Court of Appeals, Senator Chapman

OrganizationSupreme Court of Appeals“Responsible for reporting on caseloads, promulgating procedural rules, and assis”Map →

PersonSenator Chapman“Introduced Senate Bill 663 in the West Virginia Senate.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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