West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB657: Creating Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act
Status: Passed one chamber, March 3, 2026
What the bill says
To amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18-36-1, §18-36-2, §18-36-3, §18-36-4, and §18-36-5, relating to establishing the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act; providing legislative findings; defining terms; requiring the State Board of Education to promulgate a legislative rule, in consultation with the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, that governs concussion protocol, education, and training to reduce concussions and the development of a concussion education and response plan; allowing the West Virginia Board of Physical.
From the engrossed text, February 26, 2026:
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18-36-1, §18-36-2, §18-36-3, §18-36-4, and §18-36-5, relating to establishing the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act; providing legislative findings; defining terms; requiring the State Board of Education to promulgate a legislative rule, in consultation with the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, that governs concussion protocol, education, and training to reduce concussions and the development of a concussion education and response plan; allowing the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy to provide a draft rule; requiring a school to adopt a concussion education and response plan in accordance with the rule; allowing individual student athletes participating in a school-organized football practice to use supplemental safety enhancing devices; allowing individual schools to require their student athletes participating in a school organized football practice to use supplemental safety enhancing devices; allowing county school districts to require student athletes at schools under their jurisdiction and participating in a school-organized football practice to use supplemental safety enhancing devices; preventing any person or entity from prohibiting a student from using supplemental safety enhancing devices while participating in a school-organized football practice; providing use of certain safety equipment may violate the manufacturer's warranty on other equipment; establishing the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program and providing procedures; and creating …