WEST virginia Legislature
2024 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 4454
By Delegate Crouse
[Introduced January 10, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-1-23; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-2-19, all relating to prohibiting mask mandates by the State of West Virginia; and prohibiting local health departments in West Virginia from instituting any type of mandatory mask mandate or face covering requirement.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
The Governor and the state health officer may not implement any sort of mandatory face covering or mask requirement. The requirements of §61-6-22 of this code relating to the wearing of masks, hoods or face coverings shall still apply.
Local boards of health in West Virginia shall not implement any mandatory face covering or mask requirement, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise. The requirements of §61-6-22 of this code relating to the wearing of masks, hoods or face coverings shall still apply.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit a mask or face covering requirement by the State of West Virginia or by local boards of health in West Virginia.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.