HB712Introduced in the House of Delegates
Office-based buprenorphine treatment; Board of Medicine to amend regulations.
Introduced by Otto Wachsmann, District 83
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Board of Medicine; office-based buprenorphine treatment; counseling. Directs the Board of Medicine to amend its regulations regarding office-based buprenorphine treatment to require providers to offer counseling or referral to counseling to each patient as clinically necessary and mutually agreed-upon. The bill specifies that a patient's refusal of counseling does not preclude the patient from receiving office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to SB 641.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0207)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) · February 23, 2026
38
Yes
0
No
2
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104755D
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB712)
Assigned sub: Health Professions
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Health and Human Services (22-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health (13-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB712ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB712)
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 207 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0207)
Verify the information
Our commitment to neutrality
We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.