2026 Regular Session
Link to Bill History on Legacy Website (Click Here)Summary: To standardize reporting practices and improve forensic and public health research by including vaccination history in death investigations
PDF: hb5031 intr.pdf
DOCX: HB5031 INTR.docx
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5031
By Delegates Funkhouser, Anders, Ridenour, Masters, Horst, Linville, Phillips, Butler, Kimble, Miller, and Crouse
[Introduced February 02, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-12A-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the Fatality and Mortality Review Team under the Department of Health; access to medical information in investigations; and including vaccination records in death investigations.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 12A. FATALITY AND MORTALITY REVIEW TEAM.
§61-12A-3. Access to information; other agencies of government required to cooperate.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the Fatality and Mortality Review Team may request information and records as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Records and information that may be requested under this section include:
(1) Medical, dental, and mental health records, including vaccination records in death investigations;
(2) Substance abuse records to the extent allowed by federal law; and
(3) Information and records maintained by any state, county, and local government agency, except as provided in §61-12A-2(b) of this code.
(b) State, county, and local government agencies shall provide the Fatality and Mortality Review Team with any information requested in writing.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow the Fatality and Mortality Review Team under the Department of Health to access vaccination records in death investigations.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.