# West Virginia HB 5214: Relating to drug testing of parents who have had abuse and/or neglect claims substantiated against them prior to reunification.

West Virginia HB 5214, Relating to drug testing of parents who have had abuse and/or neglect claims substantiated against them prior to reunification., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Scot C. Heckert (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-08-13 (Chapter 72, Acts, Regular Session, 2026) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5214-2026rs
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: West Virginia HB 5214
- State: West Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Relating to drug testing of parents who have had abuse and/or neglect claims substantiated against them prior to reunification.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Last action: 2026-08-13, Chapter 72, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
- Sponsor: Scot C. Heckert (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: §49-4-604
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (258 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Medication-assisted treatment won’t end parental rights: benefit, high. The court may not end your parental rights only because you are in medication-assisted treatment for substance use. This protection applies if you are meeting the program’s treatment rules under state law.
- Parents get child case plan early: benefit, low. After a court finds abuse or neglect, the department must file a written child case plan. It must list placement, permanency plans, services for family and caregivers, ADA accommodations, and reunification timelines. You and the child’s attorney get a copy at least five days before the dispositiona…
- Stronger rules for guardians ad litem: benefit, low. A guardian ad litem must follow child abuse court rules and lawyer conduct rules. They must meet education and court certification standards, or they cannot be paid. The state Supreme Court is asked to review training, certification, and payment rules.
- Drug tests before kids return home: mixed, high. When substance misuse was part of the case, or there is credible current evidence, parents must complete drug testing the court sets before reunification. Tests cover substances the court or department reasonably suspects. A positive initial test, without a valid prescription or medical cannabis ca…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Scot C. Heckert (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | House | House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment and title amendment (Roll No. 646) | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 693) | pass | 33 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Passed Senate (Roll No. 562) | pass | 34 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 167) | pass | 94 | 0 |   |

## Actions (48)

- 2026-08-13: Chapter 72, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (House)
- 2026-04-01: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 (House)
- 2026-03-25: To Governor 3/25/26 (House)
- 2026-03-14: House received Senate message (House)
- 2026-03-14: House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment and title amendment (Roll No. 646) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Communicated to Senate (House)
- 2026-03-14: House Message received (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 693) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Communicated to House (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Completed legislative action (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal (House)
- 2026-03-13: On 3rd reading with right to amend (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Read 3rd time (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: HHR com. amendment adopted (Voice vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Passed Senate (Roll No. 562) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Judiciary com. title amendment adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Senate requests House to concur (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Reported do pass, with title amend., and as amended by HHR (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Immediate consideration (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Read 2nd time (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Without recommendation, but first rereferred to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Immediate consideration (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read 1st time (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: On 2nd reading, rereferred to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Reported do pass, with amendment, but first to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: To Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Introduced in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: To Health and Human Resources then Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: To Health and Human Resources (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed House (Roll No. 167) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Communicated to Senate (House)
- 2026-02-20: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-20: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-02-19: On 1st reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-19: Read 1st time (House)
- 2026-02-18: By substitute, do pass (House)
- 2026-02-13: Markup Discussion (House)
- 2026-02-12: To House Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-11: To House Courts (House)
- 2026-02-05: Filed for introduction (House)
- 2026-02-05: To Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-05: Introduced in House (House)
- 2026-02-05: To House Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1.pdf)
- Engrossed: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 eng.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 enr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 enr.pdf)
- Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 intr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed)
- HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed)
- HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed)
- HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law)
- HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime (signed)
- HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds (signed)

## Sources
- [Committee Substitute (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1.htm)
- [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1.pdf)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 eng.htm)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 enr.htm)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 sub1 enr.pdf)
- [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 intr.htm)
- [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5214 intr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs)
- [HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to tha…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4390-2026rs)
- [HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs)
- [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs)
- [HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4138-2026rs)
- [HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4106-2026rs)
- [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills)
- [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5214-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).