West Virginia Military Legislation & Policies

Latest Status

State Response to Military Interpersonal Violence (Allow Military Protective Orders as Evidence, Enhance Information-Sharing): West Virginia Floor Vote

Demographic Data

State residents include:

1,024 active-duty service members
458 active-duty spouses
787 active-duty children
- 490 children in K-12
7,792 National Guard and reserve members
3,576 National Guard and reserve spouses
5,447 National Guard and reserve children
- 3,481 children in K-12

Data source: DMDC, Dec. 31, 2025

Christopher Arnold

Mid-Atlantic Regional Liaison

Mid-Atlantic Region

DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV

EMAIL

Mr. Arnold became Mid-Atlantic region liaison in 2020. Prior to joining the DSLO, he spent eight years as a top-level staffer in both houses of the New York legislature, four years as director of public affairs in New York's third-largest city and three years managing several units of county government. Mr. Arnold is a former journalist and U.S. Army combat veteran.

State-Specific Progress on State Policy Priorities and Sub-Priorities

See the latest status on legislation and policies being advanced in this state on state policy priorities important to military families. Find quick access to this state’s regional liaison, along with demographic data for the military community in this state.

No Action
Bill introduced
Priority advanced
Policy Passed
VIEW ALL

Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts9/19 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact

Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

02/05/2020HB 4375

03/07/2020HB 4375

03/25/2020

Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia joins the Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist interstate compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Cosmetology Licensure Compact

Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact

Dietitian Licensure Compact

02/25/2026HB4501

Emergency Medical Services Licensure Compact

01/31/2020HB 4179

02/12/2020HB 4179

03/06/2020

Emergency Medical Services Licensure Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia joins the EMS interstate compact effective 5/17/2020.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Interstate Massage Therapy Compact

Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact

Licensed Professional Counseling Compact

03/08/2022SB 213

02/18/2022SB 213

03/23/2022

Licensed Professional Counseling Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia joins the Counseling compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Nurse Licensure Compact

04/17/2017

Nurse Licensure Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia enacted the nurse compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact

02/25/2022SB 221

02/21/2022SB 221

03/08/2022

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia Joins the Occupational Therapy Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact

03/07/2018SB-456

02/26/2018SB-456

03/27/2018

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia joins the Physical Therapy Compact!

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Physician Associates Compact

03/06/2024SB 667

02/21/2024SB 667

03/27/2024

Physician Associates Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia became the fourth state to enact the Physician Associates Compact in March 2024. With seven states having passed the compact as of April 2024, the process will begin to operationalize the compact and give out privileges to practice.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

04/07/2021SB 668

03/29/2021SB 668

04/21/2021

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Final Legislation

West Virginia joins the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Social Work Licensure Compact

Interstate Compact for School Psychologists

02/13/2024HB 4951

03/01/2024HB 4951

03/26/2024

Interstate Compact for School Psychologists Final Legislation

West Virginia became the second state to enact the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists in 2024.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

Athletic Trainer Compact

Esthetics Licensure Compact

Military Spouse Employment Preference1/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Employment Preference - Private Sector

03/06/2025HB 3080

04/25/2025

Employment Preference - Private Sector Final Legislation

A law sponsored by Delegate Wayne Clark allows private employers in West Virginia to extend preference in hiring and retention to military spouses.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Employment Preference - Public Sector

Employment Preference - Procurement

Military Clause in State Family Leave Laws

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Solutions for Military Homeschoolers0/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Streamline Requirements

Ensure Extracurricular Access

Clarify JROTC Eligibility

State Exemption for Military-Certified Family Child Care Homes

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

State Support of Military Families with Special Education Needs0/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Minimize Delays

01/22/2026HB 4368

Reduce Burdens

01/22/2026HB 4368

Education Policy Implementation and Information Enhancements2/4 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Advance Enrollment

01/22/2026HB 4368

Military Student Identifier (MSI)

01/22/2026HB 4368

09/30/2025

Military Student Identifier (MSI) Final Legislation

Through education policy implementation and information enhancements to its student identification system, West Virginia has supported military-connected children and ensured families are empowered with the knowledge they need by clarifying requirements, enhancing communication efforts and streamlining access to information.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children

01/22/2026HB 4368

09/30/2025

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children Final Legislation

To ensure information about the Education Compact is easily obtained and understood by military families, West Virginia developed policies to maintain updated information and related resources about the Education Compact on a webpage dedicated to military families.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Purple Star Schools Program

05/06/2025

Purple Star Schools Program Final Legislation

West Virginia has detailed information on the many meaningful programmatic enhancements to its recognition program for military-friendly schools, such as professional development for school employees, on an easily accessible website which includes audiovisual resources.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Open Enrollment Flexibility

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

01/22/2026HB 4368

Concurrent Juvenile Jurisdiction

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

03/10/2026HB4364

02/25/2026HB4364

State Response to Military Interpersonal Violence0/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Enhance Information-Sharing

02/20/2026HB4366

03/10/2026HB4366

Allow Military Protective Orders as Evidence

02/20/2026HB4366

03/10/2026HB4366

Military Community Representation on State Defense Councils

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

State Policy Priorities 2026

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

State Policy Priorities 2026

Sign up for an eNewsletter

Connect with us

Download Our App