Requires drug testing of parents with substantiated abuse/neglect claims prior to reunification
Summary
West Virginia HB5214 has been signed into law, requiring parents with substantiated abuse or neglect claims to undergo drug testing before their children can be returned to them. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and takes effect upon signature. Social services agencies in West Virginia must implement screening protocols for reunification cases.
What changed
West Virginia HB5214 enacts a new requirement that parents with substantiated abuse or neglect claims must submit to drug testing prior to any reunification with their children. The bill was signed by Governor on April 1, 2026, after passing the House 94-0 and Senate 34-0 with amendments adopted in both chambers. This represents a new statutory mandate that did not previously exist in West Virginia law.\n\nAffected parties include parents involved in child welfare proceedings and West Virginia's Division of Child Services and related social services agencies. Parents seeking reunification must now satisfy drug testing requirements as part of their case plan, potentially delaying or conditioning reunification on negative test results. Government agencies must establish or contract for drug testing services and integrate results into reunification decision-making.
What to do next
- Update child welfare agency procedures to incorporate mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite for reunification
- Brief child welfare caseworkers and supervisors on new drug testing requirements for substantiated abuse/neglect cases
- Review and revise family reunification case plans to include drug testing protocols
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / West Virginia / HB5214 Signed by Governor HB5214 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-03-14
Relating to drug testing of parents who have had abuse and/or neglect claims substantiated against them prior to reunification.
The purpose of this bill is to require parents with abuse and/or neglect claims substantiated against them to be drug tested prior to reunification.
Bill Details
State West Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.wvlegislature.gov/BillStatus/Billshi...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Scot Heckert (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-01 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 2026-03-14 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal 2026-03-14 S Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-25 H To Governor 3/25/26 2026-03-14 S To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-14 S Completed legislative action 2026-03-14 S Communicated to House 2026-03-14 S Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 693) 2026-03-14 S House Message received 2026-03-14 H Communicated to Senate 2026-03-14 H House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment and title amendment (Roll No. 646) 2026-03-14 H House received Senate message 2026-03-13 S Senate requests House to concur 2026-03-13 S Judiciary com. title amendment adopted 2026-03-13 S Passed Senate (Roll No. 562) 2026-03-13 S HHR com. amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-03-13 S Read 3rd time 2026-03-13 S On 3rd reading with right to amend 2026-03-12 S Read 2nd time 2026-03-12 S Immediate consideration 2026-03-12 S Reported do pass, with title amend., and as amended by HHR 2026-03-11 S On 2nd reading, rereferred to Judiciary 2026-03-11 S Read 1st time 2026-03-11 S Immediate consideration 2026-03-11 S Without recommendation, but first rereferred to Judiciary 2026-03-06 S To Judiciary 2026-03-06 S Reported do pass, with amendment, but first to Judiciary 2026-02-24 S To Health and Human Resources 2026-02-24 S To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary 2026-02-24 S Introduced in Senate 2026-02-23 H Communicated to Senate 2026-02-23 H Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-02-23 H Passed House (Roll No. 167) 2026-02-23 H Read 3rd time 2026-02-23 H On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-20 H Read 2nd time 2026-02-20 H On 2nd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-19 H Read 1st time 2026-02-19 H On 1st reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-18 H By substitute, do pass 2026-02-13 H Markup Discussion 2026-02-12 H To House Judiciary 2026-02-11 H To House Courts 2026-02-05 H To House Judiciary 2026-02-05 H Introduced in House 2026-02-05 H To Judiciary 2026-02-05 H Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-02-23 Passed House (Roll No. 167) Yea: 94 Nay: 0 2026-03-13 Passed Senate (Roll No. 562) Yea: 34 Nay: 0 2026-03-14 House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment and title amendment (Roll No. 646) Yea: 97 Nay: 0 2026-03-14 Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 693) Yea: 33 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-05 H Judiciary 2026-02-11 H Courts 2026-02-12 H Judiciary 2026-02-24 S Health and Human Resources 2026-03-06 S Judiciary
Amendments
2026-02-23 hb5214 hfat akers 2-23 2026-02-23 hb5214 hfat akers 2-23 adopted Adopted 2026-03-04 hb5214 s hhr am _ 3-4 2026-03-11 hb5214 s jud amt _1 3-11 2026-03-11 hb5214 s jud amt _1 3-11 adopted Adopted 2026-03-04 hb5214 s hhr am _ 3-4 adopted Adopted 2026-03-14 hb5214 hfat mcgeehan 3-14 2026-03-14 hb5214 hfat mcgeehan 3-14 adopted Adopted 2026-03-14 hb5214 hfa mcgeehan 3-14 _1 2026-03-14 hb5214 hfa mcgeehan 3-14 _1 adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Comm Sub 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Related changes
Get daily alerts for West Virginia Legislative Events
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when West Virginia Legislative Events publishes new changes.