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SB 123WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill requires available ambulance at middle and high school football games by 2026-2027

Original title: Requiring ambulance, if available, at middle school or high school football game

Last action · January 14, 2026: To EducationSponsor: Mike Woelfel

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

By the 2026-2027 school year, the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission must require an available ambulance to be present at all middle and high school football games under its control, with a provision allowing games to continue if the ambulance is called away on an emergency.

Why it matters

Schools and athletic leagues must arrange for on-site ambulance standby during football games starting in the 2026-2027 school year, while receiving civil liability protections if they attempt compliance in good faith.

Background
  • The legislation is named in memory of Alex Miller, a Roane County football player who tragically died after collapsing during a school football game. context
  • The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission oversees interscholastic athletic events for middle and high schools across the state. context

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

West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission

The commission must require and enforce the presence of an available ambulance at middle and high school football games and propose rules for promulgation.

Directly affected

middle school and high school football players

An available ambulance is required to be present on school or event grounds during the duration of their football games.

Directly affected

schools and county boards of education

They receive civil liability protection for good-faith compliance attempts and must align with the commission's rules regarding event safety.

Key Facts

  • By the 2026-2027 school year, the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission must require an available ambulance to be present during all middle school and high school football games under its supervision.
  • If an assigned ambulance must leave to respond to an emergency, the football game is legally permitted to continue.
  • The commission must propose rules for promulgation by the State Board to implement the requirements, including proximity rules.
  • Individuals, schools, county boards of education, and other entities are granted civil immunity from damages when attempting in good faith to comply with the section's requirements.
Show all 6 facts
  • The law is officially designated as The Alex Miller Law in memory of a Roane County football player who collapsed and died during a school game.
  • Existing law already requires an automated external defibrillator (AED), a posted emergency action plan, and trained sports personnel during athletic events and practices by the 2021-2022 school year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if the ambulance has to leave the game for an emergency call?
The bill explicitly states that if the ambulance is required to leave due to being called away on an emergency, the game may continue.
Are schools or boards liable if something goes wrong while trying to comply?
No individual, school, county board of education, or other entity may be held liable for civil damages if they attempted in good faith to comply with the requirements.

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Jan 14, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Education
  2. Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced in Senate
  3. Jan 14, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Education then Finance
  4. Jan 14, 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.

Sponsors

Mike WoelfelSenateDemocraticPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

State Board, Roane County, West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission and 1 more
OrganizationState Board“State board responsible for promulgating rules proposed by the commission.”Map →
locationRoane County“County associated with Alex Miller.”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission“Commission controlling, supervising, and regulating school athletic events and r”Map →
PersonAlex Miller“Roane County football player who collapsed and died during a school football gam”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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