summary
Introduced
01/21/2026
01/21/2026
In Committee
01/21/2026
01/21/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
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.
AI Summary
This bill expands "Laken's Law," which is the Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Education Act, to include students in grades 3 through 12 in all West Virginia public schools, whereas it previously only covered grades 6 through 12. This law mandates annual instruction on fentanyl, heroin, and opioid awareness, prevention, and abuse, including the life-saving use of FDA-approved opioid reversal agents, prevention of addiction, and information about available state and community resources for substance use prevention. While the expanded instruction for grades 3-5 will begin in the 2026-2027 school year, the existing instruction for grades 6-12 will continue as planned for the 2024-2025 school year.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (5)
Jeffrey Stephens (R)*,
Jeff Campbell (R),
Lori Dittman (R),
David Elliott Pritt (R),
Jimmy Willis (R),
Last Action
To House Education (on 01/21/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4655&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill |
| Fiscal Note - Education, WV State Board of | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Fiscalnotes/FN(2)/fnsubmit_recordview1.cfm?RecordID=945949173 |
| Fiscal Note - Education, WV Department of | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Fiscalnotes/FN(2)/fnsubmit_recordview1.cfm?RecordID=951313716 |
| BillText | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4655%20intr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=4655 |
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