The bill seeks to reestablish a statewide Healthy Lifestyles program in West Virginia by repealing previous articles related to the Healthy West Virginia Program and introducing the "Make West Virginia Healthy Act of 2026." This new legislation establishes the Office of Healthy Lifestyles, which will coordinate wellness initiatives across state agencies, focusing on improving nutrition and addressing chronic diet- and lifestyle-related diseases. Key provisions include the creation of a Healthy Lifestyles Fund, a Healthy Lifestyle Coalition, and a county grant program to promote healthy living. The Office will collaborate with the Department of Education to enhance physical fitness and nutrition programs in schools, ensuring students have access to nutritious food and participate in physical education.

Additionally, the bill mandates the implementation of a school fitness month and requires schools to engage in National Physical Fitness and Sports Month each May. It introduces fitness testing for students in grades four through eight and high school, with modified tests for exceptional students. The legislation also establishes a fund to support nutrition programs under the Feed to Achieve initiative, encourages public-private partnerships for nutrition initiatives, and mandates collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services for outreach programs. The West Virginia Board of Education is tasked with implementing a sustainable "Farm-to-School" program, with annual reporting on outcomes to ensure transparency and accountability in resource use aimed at improving student health.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-7a, 18-5D-4, 9-5-34, 16-67-1, 16-67-2, 16-67-3, 16-67-4, 16-67-5, 16-67-6, 16-67-7, 16-67-8, 16-67-9, 16-67-10, 5-1E-1, 5-1E-2, 5-1E-3, 5-1E-4, 5-1E-5