West Virginia establishes emergency vehicle program and traffic exemptions for licensed physicians

Original title: Exempting certain physicians from specified traffic laws when responding to emergencies

Last action · February 3, 2026: To FinanceSponsors: Tom Takubo and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia Senate Bill 620 establishes the Physician's Program, allowing licensed medical doctors and osteopathic physicians to operate personal s as authorized emergency vehicles with red flashing lights and sirens when responding to unexpected medical emergencies.

Why it matters

Licensed physicians participating in the new program gain legal permission to use emergency equipment and warnings during urgent responses, while facing new board-regulated eligibility standards, equipment specifications, and administrative fees.

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

Physicians

Licensed medical doctors and osteopathic physicians become eligible to apply for authorization to operate personal vehicles as emergency vehicles subject to board rules and fees.

Directly affected

West Virginia Board of Medicine

The board is required to propose legislative rules, issue authorizations, set fees, and enforce administrative penalties for participating medical doctors.

Directly affected

West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine

The board is required to propose legislative rules, issue authorizations, set fees, and enforce administrative penalties for participating osteopathic physicians.

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 physicians use red flashing lights when returning from a medical emergency?

No. The bill explicitly mandates that audible signals and red lights may only be used when the physician is responding to, but not upon returning from, an unexpected emergency.

How long is a physician's emergency vehicle authorization valid?

An authorization issued by the board must be dated and cannot be valid for more than five years from the date of issuance.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

6 actions

Feb 3, 2026SenateCommittee
To Finance
Feb 3, 2026Senate
Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance
Jan 27, 2026SenateCommittee
To Transportation and Infrastructure
Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Jan 26, 2026SenateCommittee
To Transportation and Infrastructure then Finance
Jan 26, 2026SenateIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

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