West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 2 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 543 — Requiring Bureau for Social Services to file legislative rule

Last action — To House Judiciary

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House of Delegates
  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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Requiring Bureau for Social Services to file legislative rule

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

30 added · 28 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of SB 543 requires the Bureau for Social Services to file its complete policy manual and any future amendments as a legislative rule by a specified deadline of July 1, 2026. The changes clarify how policies governing child protective services and related programs will be regulated and monitored going forward. This matters because it ensures better oversight and transparency of the Bureau's operations, ultimately aiming to improve the care and services provided to children and families.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION INTERIM Introduced BILL Senate Bill 543 By Senators Deeds, Grady, M.
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 543 BY SENATORS DEEDS, GRADY, M.
Maynard, Roberts, and Tarr [Introduced January 20, 2026;
AYNARD, OBERTS , GARCIA, AYLOR, UCKER AND W ILLIS [Reported February 3, 2026, from the Committee on the Judiciary] CS for SB 543 A BILL to amend and reenact §49-2-121 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring the Bureau for Social Services to file legislative rule by certain date;
referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources;
specifying certain policies to be filed as legislative rule;
and then to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr SB 543 2026R3110S 2026R3085H A BILL to amend and reenact §49-2-121 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring the Bureau of Social Service to file a legislative rule.
requiring the filing of amendments as a legislative rule in certain circumstances;
and clarifying causes of action, immunities, and privileges available in civil suits.
Rule-making.
Rulemaking.
(d) (1) The Bureau of Social Services shall prepare, compile, and file its complete policy manual, including all policies governing child protective services, foster care, youth services, licensing, casework standards, and any other operational or programmatic guidance used by the bureau, as a legislative rule in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
(d) (1) The Bureau for Social Services shall prepare, compile, and file its complete policy manual, including all policies governing Child Protective Services, foster care, youth services, licensing, casework standards, and any other operational or programmatic guidance used by the bureau, as a legislative rule in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
(2) The bureau shall file the legislative rule required under subsection (d) with the Secretary of States’ Office on or before July 1, 2026.
(2) The bureau shall file the legislative rule required under subsection (d) of this section with the Secretary of State’s office on or before July 1, 2026.
(3) Following the initial filing required, the bureau shall file all subsequent amendments, supplements, and revisions to its policy manual as legislative rules in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq.
(3) Following the required initial filing, the bureau shall file all subsequent amendments, supplements, and revisions to its policy manual as an amendment to the legislative rule in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection and §29A-3-1 et seq.
(4) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the bureau from issuing internal guidance or emergency procedures as necessary to protect child safety;
CS for SB 543 (4) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the bureau from issuing internal guidance or emergency procedures as necessary to protect child safety;
however, any such guidance that remains in effect for more than 180 days shall be incorporated into the legislative rule process.
however, any such guidance that remains in effect for more than 180 days shall be incorporated into the legislative rule in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection and §29A-3-1 et seq.
Intr SB 543 2026R3110S 2026R3085H NOTE:
of this code.
The purpose of this bill is to require the Bureau of Social Service to file its policy manual as a legislative rule.
(5) The amendments to this section enacted during the 2026 regular session of the Legislature shall not be construed as creating a private cause of action against the Bureau for Social Services, its employees, or its agents, nor shall the amendments be construed as abrogating or otherwise modifying any common law immunity or statutory privilege available to the Bureau for Social Services, its employees, or its agents.
This bill was recommended for introduction by the Joint Committee on Children and Families.
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 Health and Human Resources then Judiciary

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Health and Human Resources

  5. Reported do pass, but first to Judiciary

  6. To Judiciary

  7. Committee substitute reported

  8. On 1st reading

  9. Read 1st time

  10. On 2nd reading

  11. Laid over on 2nd reading 2/5/2026

  12. Laid over on 2nd reading 2/6/2026

  13. Laid over on 2nd reading 2/9/2026

  14. Read 2nd time

  15. On 3rd reading

  16. Read 3rd time

  17. Passed Senate (Roll No. 63)

  18. Ordered to House

  19. House received Senate message

  20. Introduced in House

  21. To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary

  22. To House Health and Human Resources

  23. Markup Discussion

  24. Do pass, but first to Judiciary

  25. To House Judiciary

Sponsors

  • M. Maynard · Cosponsor
  • Roberts · Cosponsor
  • Taylor · Cosponsor
  • Rucker · Cosponsor
  • Willis · Cosponsor
  • Vince Deeds · Primary
  • Amy Grady · Cosponsor
  • Joey Garcia · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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 32 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 27002
Democrat 4000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 32002
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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

public-safety civil-rights healthcare labor 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 SB 543 do?
Requiring Bureau for Social Services to file legislative rule
Who sponsors SB 543?
SB 543 is sponsored by M. Maynard, Roberts, Taylor, Rucker, Willis, Vince Deeds (Republican), Amy Grady (Republican), and Joey Garcia (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 543?
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 SB 543?
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