House 4655

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4655

By Delegates Stephens, Pritt, Willis, Campbell, and Dittman

[Introduced January 21, 2026; referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend and reenact §18-34-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, relating to expanding Laken's Law to include grades 3 to 12 for fentanyl, heroin, and opioids awareness, prevention, and abuse instruction.`

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 34. Laken's Law

§18-34-1. Laken's Law.

(a) The Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Education Act or "Laken’s Law" would help prevent overdose deaths in teens and young adults due to fentanyl and fentanyl components. This shall be accomplished through education of students in grades 6-12 3-12 in all public schools and be mandated annually using the following methods:

(1) Students will shall be taught about fentanyl, heroin, and opioids awareness, prevention, and abuse;

(2) Students will shall be instructed in the life-saving use of FDA-approved opioid reversal agents;

(3) Students will shall be instructed on the prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl;

(4) Students will shall be instructed on available state and community resources and organizations that work to prevent and reduce youth substance use; and

(5) Students will shall receive health education covering the issues of substance abuse and youth substance abuse in particular.

(b) This mandatory instruction will begin in the 2024-2025 school year.

(c) The mandatory instructions for the expanded instruction including grades 3-5 shall begin in the 2026-2027 school year.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to expand "Laken’s Law" or the instruction about fentanyl, heroin, and opioids awareness, prevention to grades 3-12.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.