The proposed bill, titled the "Safeguarding Public Healthcare Funding Act," aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by establishing strict prohibitions on the use of public funds for abortions and gender transition procedures. It outlines legislative findings that emphasize the state's authority to define the limits of its healthcare programs and the use of public funds. Specifically, the bill prohibits Medicaid funds from being used for abortions, except as permitted by existing law, and bans funding for gender transition procedures. Additionally, it disqualifies entities involved in providing these services from participating in Medicaid and restricts public funds from being used to promote or assist in such procedures.

The bill also grants the Attorney General the authority to enforce these provisions and allows individuals eligible for public funds to bring legal action if they believe the law has been violated. It includes provisions for the award of reasonable attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs and establishes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions remain enforceable. The effective date for the bill is set for October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-2-11a