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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Modifies Qualifications and Outside Employment Rules for State Health Officer and Senior Services Commissioner
Last action · February 19, 2026: To House Health and Human ResourcesSponsors: Randy Smith and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 398 removes the strict full-time outside employment prohibition for the State Health Officer and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services, replacing it with a restriction against employment inconsistent with their official duties. The measure also adjusts educational requirements for the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health.
Changes the legal employment restrictions for top state health and aging officials, allowing them to engage in other occupations provided they do not conflict with their primary job duties.
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.
State Health Officer
Subject to modified outside employment rules and licensing qualifications.
Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services
Subject to updated outside employment limitations regarding duties.
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
What does Senate Bill 398 change for the State Health Officer?
Who appoints the Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services under the code?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate · in House committee.
Procedural history
17 actions- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Health and Human Resources
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Health and Human Resources
- Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse received Senate message
- Feb 18, 2026SenateOrdered to House
- Feb 18, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate (Roll No. 113)
Show 11 earlier actions
- Feb 18, 2026SenateRead 3rd time
- Feb 18, 2026SenateOn 3rd reading
- Feb 17, 2026SenateRead 2nd time
- Feb 17, 2026SenateOn 2nd reading
- Feb 16, 2026SenateRead 1st time
- Feb 16, 2026SenateOn 1st reading
- Feb 13, 2026SenateCommittee substitute reported
- Jan 15, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Health and Human Resources
- Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 15, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Health and Human Resources
- Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled 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
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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