West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted 9 R cosponsors

HB 4951 — Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education

Last action — Chapter 260, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 29, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill requires medical doctors and osteopathic doctors to complete continuing education.

This legislation mandates that MDs and DOs engage in ongoing education to maintain their medical knowledge. It aims to ensure that healthcare providers stay updated with the latest medical practices and standards.

What this means for you
  • Healthcare: For healthcare providers, this means a commitment to lifelong learning to maintain standards in medical practice.

Summary

Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

42 added · 22 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill HB 4951 has been updated to clarify the process for the approval of continuing education documentation for physicians and podiatrists. It specifies that the board must request this documentation in writing and that the board cannot impose additional requirements on retired or retiring practitioners. These changes help ensure that retired professionals are treated fairly and that the process for continuing education is clear and straightforward. This matters because it enhances the protection of public health while respecting the needs of those stepping back from active practice.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 4951 By Delegates Worrell, Hite, Jeffries, Burkhammer, Pinson, Clark, Drennan, Mazzocchi, Heckert and Miller [Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 4951 BY DELEGATES W ORRELL, HIT, EFFRIES, B URKHAMMER , PINSON, LARK, DRENNAN, MAZZOCCHI, H ECKERT AND MILLER [Passed March 14, 2026;
Reported on January 28, 2026] Eng HB 4951 A BILL to amend and reenact §30-3-12 and §30-14-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;
in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)] Enr HB 4951 AN ACT to amend and reenact §30-3-12 and §30-14-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;
Eng HB 4951 (e) Continuing podiatric education satisfactory to the board is continuing podiatric education approved by the Council on Podiatric Education and alternate categories approved by the board.
Enr HB 4951 (e) Continuing podiatric education satisfactory to the board is continuing podiatric education approved by the Council on Podiatric Education and alternate categories approved by the board.
If a licensee fails or refuses to provide supporting written documentation of the continuing education represented as received as required in this section, such failure or refusal to provide supporting Eng HB 4951 written documentation is prima facie evidence of renewing a license to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry by fraudulent misrepresentation.
If a licensee fails or refuses to provide supporting written documentation of the continuing education represented as received as required in this section, such failure or refusal to provide supporting Enr HB 4951 written documentation is prima facie evidence of renewing a license to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry by fraudulent misrepresentation.
Eng HB 4951 (b) As a prerequisite to renewal of a license issued by the board, each licensee shall furnish biennially to the board satisfactory evidence of having completed thirty-two hours of educational refresher course training, of which the total amount of hours must be approved by the American Osteopathic Association, and fifty percent of the required thirty-two hours shall be classified as category (1).
Enr HB 4951 (b) As a prerequisite to renewal of a license issued by the board, each licensee shall furnish biennially to the board satisfactory evidence of having completed thirty-two hours of educational refresher course training, of which the total amount of hours must be approved by the American Osteopathic Association, and fifty percent of the required thirty-two hours shall be classified as category (1).
Enr HB 4951 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 5
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Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Originating in House Health and Human Resources

  3. Do pass

  4. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  5. Read 1st time

  6. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  7. Read 2nd time

  8. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  9. Read 3rd time

  10. Passed House (Roll No. 42)

  11. Effective from passage (Roll No. 43)

  12. Communicated to Senate

  13. Introduced in Senate

  14. To Health and Human Resources

  15. To Health and Human Resources

  16. Reported do pass, with amendments

  17. Immediate consideration

  18. Read 1st time

  19. On 2nd reading

  20. Read 2nd time

  21. Committee amendments withdrawn by unanimous consent

  22. Floor amendments adopted (Voice vote)

  23. On 3rd reading

  24. Read 3rd time

  25. Passed Senate (Roll No. 405)

  26. Effective from passage (Roll No. 406)

  27. Senate requests House to concur

  28. House received Senate message

  29. House refused to concur; requested Senate to recede (Voice)

  30. Communicated to Senate

  31. House Message received

  32. Senate receded and passed (Roll No. 688)

  33. Effective from passage (Roll No. 689)

  34. Communicated to House

  35. Completed legislative action

  36. To Governor 3/25/2026

  37. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal

  38. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026

  39. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal

  40. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal

  41. Chapter 260, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (142)

142 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 142 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Roll Call

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 13000
Unaffiliated 20001
Total 33001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
ROSE — Yea
BARNHART — Yea
RUCKER — Yea
JEFFRIES — Yea
TAKUBO — Yea
MARTIN — Yea
TARR — Yea
MAYNARD, M — Yea
TAYLOR — Yea
MORRIS — Yea
WELD — Yea
OLIVERIO — Yea
WILLIS — Yea
PHILLIPS — Yea
WOELFEL — Not Voting
GARCIA — Yea
QUEEN — Yea
WOODRUM — Yea
ROBERTS — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
HAMILTON — Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Anne B. Charnock Republican Yea
Brian Helton Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Craig A. Hart Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Scott Fuller Republican Yea
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea
Zack Maynard Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Roll Call

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 4000
Republican 29000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 34000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4951 do?
Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education
Who sponsors HB 4951?
HB 4951 is sponsored by Clark, Evan Worrell (Republican), Michael Hite (Republican), Dean Jeffries (Republican), Adam Burkhammer (Republican), Jonathan Pinson (Republican), Sarah Drennan (Republican), Margitta Mazzocchi (Republican), Scot C. Heckert (Republican), and George Miller (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4951?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 29, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 4951?
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