Scored 2/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Local Emergency Bill
Local emergency phone lines get new immunity for 988 referrals
Relating to liability of the local emergency telephone systems.
Bad for everyday people ·
If passed, local emergency phone services could not be sued for mistakes when sending callers to the 988 mental health hotline, unless they act with gross negligence.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
If the bill passes, you could not take a local emergency phone service to court for simple mistakes. Only big, reckless errors would be allowed. That means the state and phone companies may avoid paying for harms caused by everyday slip‑ups.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- Bill would give immunity to public agencies and telephone companies that run emergency phone systems.
- Immunity covers all actions except gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct.
- Bill adds protection for referrals to the national 988 mental health hotline.
- Bill is only introduced; it has not been voted on yet.
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the West Virginia Bill Book 2026
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