West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced

SB 620 — Exempting certain physicians from specified traffic laws when responding to emergencies

Last action — To Finance

  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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Exempting certain physicians from specified traffic laws when responding to emergencies

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

247 added · 34 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of SB 620 includes new sections that allow licensed physicians to operate Class A vehicles, such as ambulances, as authorized emergency vehicles. This change enables physicians to use audible signals and flashing lights when responding to emergencies, enhancing their ability to reach patients quickly. Additionally, it establishes guidelines for the West Virginia Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to create rules governing this authorization. These amendments matter because they could improve emergency response times and potentially save lives by allowing physicians to more effectively assist in urgent situations.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced FISCAL Senate Bill 620 NOTE By Senator Takubo [Introduced January 27, 2026;
CS for SB 620 WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 620 By Senators Takubo, Oliverio, and Woelfel [Reported February 3, 2026, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure] CS for SB 620 A BILL to amend and reenact §17C-15-26 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure;
and to amend the code by adding two new sections, designated §30-3-21 and §30-14-18, relating to authorizing physicians to operate Class A vehicles as authorized emergency vehicles;
and then to the Committee on Finance] Intr SB 620 2026R3158 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §17C-2-10, relating to permitting allopathic and osteopathic physicians to be exempt from specified traffic laws in emergency situations when responding to an emergency call;
authorizing the West Virginia Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine to designate Class A vehicles of licensed medical providers as authorized emergency vehicles;
providing that physicians must still exercise due care for safety;
establishing Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Programs;
and providing for rulemaking.
requiring West Virginia Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine to propose rules for legislative approval with content requirements;
and authorizing use of audible signal and red flashing warning lights, administrative penalties, and fees.
ARTICLE 2.
CHAPTER 17C.
OBEDIENCE TO AND EFFECT OF TRAFFIC LAWS.
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND LAWS OF THE ROAD.
§17C-2-10.
ARTICLE 15.
Physician exempt from specified traffic laws when responding to emergency.
EQUIPMENT.
(a) An allopathic or osteopathic physician traveling in response to an emergency call shall be exempt from the provisions of §17C-6-1, §17C-6-2, and §17C-6-3 of this code if the vehicle used by him or her displays an emblem approved by the West Virginia Board of Medicine and the West Virginia Osteopathic Board indicating that the vehicle is owned by the licensed physician and responding to an emergency call.
§17C-15-26.
(b) The provisions of this section do not relieve the physician from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor do these provisions protect the physician from the consequences of acting in reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Special restrictions on lamps.
(c) The West Virginia Board of Medicine and West Virginia Osteopathic Board shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq.
(a) Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than head lamps, spot lamps, auxiliary lamps, or flashing front-direction signals which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
of this code.
(b) No person may drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device on the vehicle displaying other than a white or amber light visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle except as authorized by §17C-15-26(d) of this code.
Rules proposed pursuant to this section shall set forth criteria to request an emblem from the respective boards, grounds to use the emblem, and an administrative penalty if the emblem is used in inappropriate circumstances.
(c) Except as authorized in §17C-15-26(d) and §17C-15-26(g) of this code and authorized in §17C-15-19 of this code, flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles:
NOTE:
Provided, That any vehicle as a means for indicating right or left turn or any vehicle as a means of indicating the same is disabled or otherwise stopped for an emergency may have blinking or flashing lights.
The purpose of this bill is to permit physicians to be exempt from specified traffic laws when responding to an emergency call.
1 CS for SB 620 (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the following colors of flashing warning lights are restricted for the use of the type of vehicle designated:
This proposed bill provides that the physician must continue to exercise due care and provides for rulemaking.
(1) Blue flashing warning lights are restricted to police vehicles.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
Authorization for police vehicles shall be designated by the chief administrative official of each police department.
(2) Except for standard vehicle equipment authorized by §17C-15-19 of this code, red flashing warning lights are restricted to the following:
(A) Ambulances;
(B) Fire-fighting vehicles;
(C) Hazardous material response vehicles;
(D) Industrial fire brigade vehicles;
(E) Rescue squad vehicles not operating out of a fire department;
(F) School buses;
(G) Class A vehicles, as defined by §17A-10-1 et seq.
of this code, of those firefighters who are authorized by their fire chiefs to have the lights;
(H) Class A vehicles of members of duly chartered rescue squads not operating out of a fire department;
(I) Class A vehicles of members of ambulance services or duly chartered rescue squads who are authorized by their respective chiefs to have the lights;
(J) Class A vehicles of out-of-state residents who are active members of West Virginia fire departments, ambulance services, or duly chartered rescue squads who are authorized by their respective chiefs to have the lights;
(K) West Virginia Department of Agriculture emergency response vehicles;
(L) Vehicles designated by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for emergency response or emergency management by the Division of Corrections, Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, Division of Juvenile Services, and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management;
2 CS for SB 620 (M) Class A vehicles of emergency response or emergency management personnel as designated by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the county commission of the county of residence;
and (N) Emergency management and operations vehicles operated by airports;
and (O) Class A vehicles of physicians who are authorized by the West Virginia Board of Medicine or the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine and are responding to a medical emergency.
Red flashing warning lights attached to a Class A vehicle may be operated only when responding to or engaged in handling an emergency requiring the attention of the firefighters, members of the ambulance services,or chartered rescue squads, or authorized physicians.
(3) The use of red flashing warning lights is authorized as follows:
(A) Authorization for all ambulances shall be designated by the Department of Health and the sheriff of the county of residence.
(B) Authorization for all fire department vehicles shall be designated by the fire chief and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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(C) Authorization for all hazardous material response vehicles and industrial fire brigades shall be designated by the chief of the fire department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
(D) Authorization for all rescue squad vehicles not operating out of a fire department shall be designated by the squad chief, the sheriff of the county of residence, and the Department of Health.
(E) Authorization for school buses shall be designated as set out in §17C-14-12 of this code.
(F) Authorization for firefighters to operate Class A vehicles shall be designated by their fire chiefs and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
3 CS for SB 620 (G) Authorization for members of ambulance services or any other emergency medical service personnel to operate Class A vehicles shall be designated by their chief official, the Department of Health, and the sheriff of the county of residence.
(H) Authorization for members of duly chartered rescue squads not operating out of a fire department to operate Class A vehicles shall be designated by their squad chiefs, the sheriff of the county of residence, and the Department of Health.
(I) Authorization for out-of-state residents operating Class A vehicles who are active members of a West Virginia fire department, ambulance services, or duly chartered rescue squads shall be designated by their respective chiefs.
(J) Authorization for West Virginia Department of Agriculture emergency response vehicles shall be designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture.
(K) Authorization for vehicles for emergency response or emergency management by the Division of Corrections, Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, Division of Juvenile Services, and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall be designated by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
(L) Authorization for Class A vehicles of emergency response or emergency management personnel as designated by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the county commission of the county of residence.
(M) Authorization for emergency management and operations vehicles operated by airports shall be designated by the airport director and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
(N) Authorization for physicians to operate Class A vehicles shall be designated by the West Virginia Board of Medicine or the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
(4) Yellow or amber flashing warning lights are restricted to the following:
(A) All other emergency vehicles, including tow trucks and wreckers, authorized by this chapter and by §17C-15-27 of this code;
4 CS for SB 620 (B) Postal service vehicles and rural mail carriers, as authorized in §17C-15-19 of this code;
(C) Rural newspaper delivery vehicles;
(D) Flag car services;
(E) Vehicles providing road service to disabled vehicles;
(F) Service vehicles of a public service corporation;
(G) Snow removal equipment;
(H) School buses;
and (I) Automotive fire apparatus owned by a municipality or other political subdivision, by a volunteer or part-volunteer fire company or department, or by an industrial fire brigade.
(5) The use of yellow or amber flashing warning lights shall be authorized as follows:
(A) Authorization for tow trucks, wreckers, rural newspaper delivery vehicles, flag car services, vehicles providing road service to disabled vehicles, service vehicles of a public service corporation, and postal service vehicles shall be designated by the sheriff of the county of residence.
(B) Authorization for snow removal equipment shall be designated by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
(C) Authorization for school buses shall be designated as set out in §17C-14-12 of this code.
(D) Authorization for automotive fire apparatus shall be designated by the fire chief in conformity with the NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus as published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) on July 18, 2003, and adopted by the state Fire Commission by legislative rule (87 CSR 1, et seq.), except as follows:
(i) With the approval of the State Fire Marshal, used automotive fire apparatus may be conformed to the NFPA standard in effect on the date of its manufacture or conformed to a later NFPA standard;
and 5 CS for SB 620 (ii) Automotive fire apparatus may be equipped with blinking or flashing headlamps.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, any vehicle belonging to a county board of education, an organization receiving funding from the state or Federal Transit Administration for the purpose of providing general public transportation or hauling solid waste may be equipped with a white flashing strobotron warning light.
This strobe light may be installed on the roof of a school bus, a public transportation vehicle, or a vehicle hauling solid waste not to exceed one-third the body length forward from the rear of the roof edge.
The light shall have a single clear lens emitting light 360 degrees around its vertical axis and may not extend above the roof more than six and one-half inches.
A manual switch and a pilot light must be included to indicate the light is in operation.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, any waste service vehicle as defined in §17C-6-11 of this code may be equipped with yellow or amber flashing warning lights.
(g) It is unlawful for flashing warning lights of an unauthorized color to be installed or used on a vehicle other than as specified in this section, except that a police vehicle may be equipped with either or both blue or red warning lights.
CHAPTER 30.
PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.
ARTICLE 3.
WEST VIRGINIA MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT.
§30-3-21.
Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Program;
rulemaking;
penalties and fees.
(a) The Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Program is hereby established.
The West Virginia Board of Medicine shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
of this code to regulate the use of Class A vehicles that are owned or operated by physicians as authorized emergency vehicles.
(b) For purposes of this section:
6 CS for SB 620 (1) “Authorization” means an identification card or letter of authorization issued by the board to a physician that entitles the physician to operate a Class A vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle under the program;
(2) “Authorized emergency vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in §17C-1-6 of this code that enjoys special privileges as set forth in §17C-2-4 and §17C-15-26 of this code;
(3) “Class A vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in §17A-10-1 of this code;
(4) “Physician” means a medical professional licensed by the board;
and (5) “Program” means the Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Program authorized in this section.
(c) Any rules proposed under this section shall include the following:
(1) Eligibility requirements for physicians that may operate a Class A vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle under the program;
(2) Program application and renewal forms and procedures:
Provided, That such forms shall inform the physician that the operation of an authorized emergency vehicle does not relieve the driver from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, and that the law does not protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others;
(3) Specifications for the form and content of the authorization, which shall be dated and may not be valid more than five years from the date of issuance;
(4) A requirement that the physician present the authorization upon request in connection with his or her use of the authorized emergency vehicle;
(5) Minimum specification requirements for the Class A vehicle’s bell, siren, or exhaust whistle and red flashing warning light equipment:
Provided, That the board may not mandate such equipment be permanently mounted;
7 CS for SB 620 (6) Usage rules for the audible signal and red light, including a requirement that the audible signal and red light may only be used when the physician is responding to, but not upon returning from, an unexpected emergency;
(7) Any other rule the board deems necessary and reasonable for the protection of its physicians, patients, and the public;
and (8) Administrative penalties for the violation of any such rules.
(d) The board may impose program application and renewal fees designed to cover the cost of administering the program.
ARTICLE 14.
OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
§30-14-18.
Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Program;
rulemaking;
penalties and fees.
(a) The Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Program is hereby established.
The West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
of this code to regulate the use of Class A vehicles that are owned or operated by physicians as authorized emergency vehicles.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Authorization” means an identification card or letter of authorization issued by the board to a physician that entitles the physician to operate a Class A vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle under the program;
(2) “Authorized emergency vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in §17C-1-6 of this code that enjoys special privileges as set forth in §17C-2-4 and §17C-15-26 of this code;
(3) “Class A vehicle” means a vehicle as defined in §17A-10-1 of this code;
(4) “Physician” means a medical professional licensed by the board;
and (5) “Program” means the Physician’s Authorized Emergency Vehicle Program authorized in this section.
(c) Any rules proposed under this section shall include the following:
8 CS for SB 620 (1) Eligibility requirements for physicians that may operate a Class A vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle under the program;
(2) Program application and renewal forms and procedures:
Provided, That such forms shall inform the physician that the operation of an authorized emergency vehicle does not relieve the driver from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, and that the law does not protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others;
(3) Specifications for the form and content of the authorization, which shall be dated and may not be valid more than five years from the date of issuance;
(4) A requirement that the physician present the authorization upon request in connection with his or her use of the authorized emergency vehicle;
(5) Minimum specification requirements for the Class A vehicle’s bell, siren, or exhaust whistle and red flashing warning light equipment:
Provided, That the board may not mandate such equipment be permanently mounted;
(6) Usage rules for the audible signal and red light, including a requirement that the audible signal and red light may only be used when the physician is responding to, but not upon returning from, an unexpected emergency;
(7) Any other rule the board deems necessary and reasonable for the protection of its physicians, patients, and the public;
and (8) Administrative penalties for the violation of any such rules.
(d) The board may impose program application and renewal fees designed to cover the cost of administering the program.
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Transportation and Infrastructure then Finance

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Transportation and Infrastructure

  5. Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

  6. To Finance

Sponsors

  • Takubo · Primary
  • Oliverio · Cosponsor
  • Woelfel · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Takubo

Co-sponsors (2)

  • Oliverio
  • Woelfel

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety healthcare transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 620 do?
Exempting certain physicians from specified traffic laws when responding to emergencies
Who sponsors SB 620?
SB 620 is sponsored by Takubo, Oliverio, and Woelfel.
What is the current status of SB 620?
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 620?
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