Plain English Breakdown
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SB455 • 2026
Ensuring equal financial support to kinship parents and fictive kin
Ensuring equal financial support to kinship parents and fictive kin
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-01-16
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To Health and Human Resources
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2026-01-16
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Introduced in Senate
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2026-01-16
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To Health and Human Resources then Finance
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2026-01-16
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Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Ensuring equal financial support to kinship parents and fictive kin
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB 455 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version Senate Bill 455 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE FISCAL NOTE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 455 By Senator Chapman [Introduced January 16, 2026; referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on Finance] A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §49-2-131, relating to state responsibilities for children; and ensuring equal financial support by the state for kinship parents and fictive kin as provided to certified foster parents. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 2. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN. Part I. General Authority and Duties of the Department of Health and Human Resources. §49-2-131. Financial support for kinship parents and fictive kin as provided to certified foster parents. (a) The state shall ensure that all available financial support and resources that are currently available to certified foster parents will be given to kinship parents and fictive kin. Neither kinship parents nor fictive kin shall be required to become certified. A safety check and background check are still required for placement. (b) This covers all support that is presently provided to foster parents in this article. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all financial support presently available to certified foster parents is provided to kinship parents and fictive kin. The barriers and burdens placed upon kinship parents and fictive kin are too onerous. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: