West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

HB 5649 — Relating to confidentiality of certain records pertaining to adults and facility residents

Last action — To Judiciary

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

This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Relating to confidentiality of certain records pertaining to adults and facility residents

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

8 added · 13 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of Bill HB 5649 has removed some specific language about how confidential records related to vulnerable adults can be disclosed to government entities. This change clarifies the intent of the bill, focusing on the permissible disclosures and procedures for handling these records more efficiently during administrative hearings. This matters because it aims to ensure that confidential information is handled properly while still allowing necessary access for governmental oversight and support for vulnerable adults.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 5649 By Delegate Akers [Introduced February 17, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 5649 By Delegate Akers [Introduced February 17, 2026;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr HB 2026R4223 A BILL to amend and reenact §9-6-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to confidentiality of certain records pertaining to adults and facility residents;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Eng HB 5649 A BILL to amend and reenact §9-6-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to confidentiality of certain records pertaining to adults and facility residents;
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR ADULTS §9-6-8.
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR ADULTS.
§9-6-8.
Intr HB 2026R4223 (3) The prosecuting attorney of the judicial circuit in which the vulnerable adult resides or in which the alleged abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation occurred;
Eng HB 5649 (3) The prosecuting attorney of the judicial circuit in which the vulnerable adult resides or in which the alleged abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation occurred;
(1) The department shall ensure that records are redacted of all identifying information of Intr HB 2026R4223 any vulnerable adult which is not relevant to the resolution of the issue before the administrative hearing official;
Eng HB 5649 (1) The department shall ensure that records are redacted of all identifying information of any vulnerable adult which is not relevant to the resolution of the issue before the administrative hearing official;
(2) Any person engaged in bona fide research or auditing, as defined by the department.
Eng HB 5649 (2) Any person engaged in bona fide research or auditing, as defined by the department.
However, information identifying the subjects of the report may not be made available to the Intr HB 2026R4223 researcher;
However, information identifying the subjects of the report may not be made available to the researcher;
(4) A professional person when the information is necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of, and service delivery to, a vulnerable adult;
and (4) A professional person when the information is necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of, and service delivery to, a vulnerable adult.
and (5) A department administrative hearing officer when the hearing officer determines the information is necessary for the determination of an issue before the officer.
(5) A department administrative hearing officer when the hearing officer determines the information is necessary for the determination of an issue before the officer.
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to clarify permissible disclosures of confidential records to certain governmental entities and to set forth a procedure for the limited disclosure and use of confidential records in administrative hearings.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Judiciary

  5. Markup Discussion

  6. Do pass

  7. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  8. Read 1st time

  9. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  10. Read 2nd time

  11. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  12. Read 3rd time

  13. Passed House (Roll No. 336)

  14. Communicated to Senate

  15. Introduced in Senate

  16. To Judiciary

  17. To Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 151 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (151)

151 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 151 →

"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

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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 5649 do?
Relating to confidentiality of certain records pertaining to adults and facility residents
Who sponsors HB 5649?
HB 5649 is sponsored by James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 5649?
This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 5649?
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Last checked for changes about 1 month ago · updated continuously

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