West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

West Virginia Senate Bill SB 356

Introduced
1/15/26  

Caption

Board of Osteopathic Medicine rule relating to osteopathic physician assistants

Summary

SB 356 relates to a rule of the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine governing osteopathic physician assistants. Based on the bill caption, the measure appears to address professional regulation in the osteopathic medical field, likely updating or approving board rules that affect how osteopathic physician assistants are licensed, supervised, or otherwise regulated in the state. Because the bill text was not available in the provided materials, the precise statutory changes cannot be identified from the record here. However, the bill would likely operate within the state’s framework for regulating osteopathic medical practice and could affect the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, osteopathic physicians, osteopathic physician assistants, and potentially patients receiving care from those providers.

Impact

The bill’s impact would be on the administrative and regulatory rules governing osteopathic physician assistants in West Virginia. If enacted, it would likely affirm, modify, or authorize board rulemaking in this area and could affect licensing standards, scope of practice, supervision requirements, or other professional practice conditions under state law. The measure appears to be a regulatory update rather than a broad policy change, with effects concentrated on the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and the professionals it regulates.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. The bill’s referral to Judiciary suggests it may involve legal or regulatory review, but the overall sentiment cannot be determined from the record supplied. On its face, the measure appears technical and professional in nature rather than politically contentious.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. In bills of this type, possible areas of disagreement could include the scope of authority granted to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, changes to physician assistant supervision or practice limits, or the balance between professional flexibility and patient safety. However, none of those issues are confirmed here because no discussion transcript or vote history was included.

Companion Bills

WV HB4305

Similar To Relating to authorizing the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule relating to osteopathic physician assistants.

Previously Filed As

WV SB391

Board of Osteopathic Medicine rule relating to waiver of initial licensing fees for certain applicants

WV HB2311

Relating to authorizing the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule relating to a waiver of initial licensing fees for certain initial licensure applicants

WV SB29

Allowing physicians assistants to own practice

WV SB660

Removing restrictions for supervising physicians for nurse practitioners or physician assistants in WV

WV SB385

Board of Medicine rule relating to waiver of initial licensing fees for certain applicants

WV HB2544

To remove restrictions for supervising physicians for Nurse practitioners or physician assistants in West Virginia

WV SB557

Relating to licensing by WV Board of Medicine

WV HB2305

Relating to authorizing the Board of Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule relating to waiver of initial licensing fees for certain initial licensure applicants

WV SB408

Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology rule relating to speech-language pathology and audiology assistants

WV SB866

Requiring WV Board of Education to promulgate legislative rule in consultation with WV Board of Physical Therapy

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.