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HB 4807WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill 4807 authorizes regional mental hygiene courts, video evaluations, and provider liability protections

Original title: Relating generally to the creation of mental hygiene regions by the Supreme Court of Appeals

Last action · January 26, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Evan Worrell and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 4807 restructures West Virginia's mental hygiene system by authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to establish mental hygiene regions with full-time, state-employed commissioners, while permitting mental hygiene evaluations and hearings to be conducted via video technology. The measure also grants civil immunity to mental health service providers conducting involuntary commitment examinations absent gross negligence or bad faith, establishes a period of up to 120 days, and requires a hearing before any civil commitment can exceed 120 days.

Why it matters

Changes how involuntary mental health and substance use commitment proceedings are handled statewide by shifting oversight to regional state-employed commissioners, altering evaluation methods, and setting strict 120-day hearing caps for extended commitments.

Background
  • West Virginia's involuntary commitment procedures are governed by Chapter 27 of the West Virginia Code, which outlines the roles of circuit courts, mental hygiene commissioners, and community mental health centers. context
  • Mental hygiene commissioners conduct probable cause and final hearings for individuals facing involuntary hospitalization due to mental illness or substance use disorders. 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

Mental health service providers

Providers receive civil immunity during involuntary custody examinations unless negligence or bad faith is proven by clear and convincing evidence.

Directly affected

Supreme Court of Appeals

The Court is granted authority to establish mental hygiene regions, employ full-time commissioners, and promulgate implementing rules.

Directly affected

Comprehensive Community Mental Health Centers

Centers must ensure at least one examiner is available for continuous and uniform regional coverage, including weekends and holidays.

Directly affected

Respondents in mental hygiene proceedings

Individuals undergoing commitment face new video hearing options, temporary observation release periods, and mandatory 120-day review hearings.

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 mental hygiene hearings be conducted over video?
Yes. Evaluations and hearings in mental hygiene proceedings may be conducted via videoconferencing technology unless a orders an in-person proceeding.
Are mental health evaluators protected from lawsuits?
Yes. Mental health service providers who perform involuntary custody examinations are shielded from civil liability unless they act with negligence demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence or in bad faith.
What is the maximum time someone can be civilly committed without a review hearing?
No individual may be civilly committed under this article for more than 120 days without a hearing to determine whether the individual continues to meet commitment criteria.
Who employs the new full-time mental hygiene commissioners?
The Supreme Court of Appeals may select, appoint, compensate, and supervise full-time s who serve at the Court's pleasure.

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 House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Jan 26, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Judiciary
  2. Jan 26, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Jan 26, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Judiciary
  4. Jan 26, 2026HouseIntroduced
    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

Evan WorrellHouse · District 23RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Mike HiteHouse · District 92RepublicanSponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Centralization of Mental Hygiene Supervision

Shifts appointment and supervisory authority over mental hygiene commissioners from local circuit judges to the Supreme Court of Appeals via regional structures.

Supreme Court of Appeals

Connected Entities

Supreme Court of Appeals, Department of Human Services, Evan Worrell and 4 more
OrganizationSupreme Court of Appeals“Authorized to create mental hygiene regions and employ full-time commissioners”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Human Services“Designates community mental health centers”Map →
PersonEvan Worrell“Lead sponsor of House Bill 4807”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Health Facilities“Secretary consults on orientation programs and reimbursement”Map →
OrganizationSupreme Court-General Judicial“Budget source for expense reimbursements”Map →
OrganizationHouse Judiciary“Committee to which the bill was referred”Map →
PersonMike Hite“Co-sponsor of House Bill 4807”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
  • Controversy35
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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