Kayla Young is a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for District 56, where she has served since 2020, and is running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. She is an entrepreneur from Charleston.[1][2]
Kayla Young lives in Charleston, West Virginia, and earned an undergraduate degree from West Virginia University in 2009.[1]Her career experience includes working as an entrepreneur.[1]Ballotpedia lists her as affiliated with Rotary International, the National Organization for Women and Boss Babes WV.[1]She has served in the House of Delegates since 2020 and advanced from the Democratic primary on May 12, 2026.[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living169 with · 7 against176 votes
As passed by the House, requires all employers to register with E-Verify, check new hires' work authorization and keep records, gives employers who use E-Verify a legal defense, removes some criminal penalties, and sets escalating sanctions from warnings to state-contract bans and business-license revocation.
On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Exempts new hires and promoted employees in the Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services and Health from the classified civil service system and state grievance procedures starting July 1, 2026. Secretaries may restore coverage where federal law requires; bars nepotism and favoritism in decisions.
As passed by the House, creates a five-year Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program for Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties, with a council to coordinate existing state, local and university resources for economic development, annual reports, and outreach to businesses on existing tax credits.
On the version voted Mar 11, 2026: Lengthens prison terms for second-degree murder to 15 to 60 years and voluntary manslaughter to 5 to 25 years, sets minimum time served before parole for each, and raises minimum time before parole for life sentences.
As passed by the House, requires all employers to register with E-Verify, check new hires' work authorization and keep records, gives employers who use E-Verify a legal defense, removes some criminal penalties, and sets escalating sanctions from warnings to state-contract bans and business-license revocation.
As amended by the Senate, amends the state public records law to exempt private personal information and more internal and security records, extend the response deadline from 5 to 14 business days, allow search fees, and remove the presumption of access.
As first passed by the House, before Senate and later House amendments, repeals education code sections on teacher professional development, a behavior interventionist pilot program, use of school buildings as child care facilities, and the High School Graduation Improvement Act.
On the version voted Apr 12, 2025: Expands West Virginia University's Board of Governors to 15 governor-appointed members, including WVU Tech and Potomac State graduates, specifies that elected faculty, student and staff board members serve as nonvoting advisers, and requires an agriculture or forestry member on the WVU and West Virginia State University boards.
As passed by the Senate, adds religious and philosophical exemptions to school and child care vaccine requirements, lets a doctor's, physician assistant's or nurse practitioner's note grant medical exemptions without state review, bars excluding exempt children from extracurriculars or school events, and allows lawsuits.
Charges interest on overpayments owed back to state Medicaid programs, at the state's court judgment interest rate, starting 31 days after an overpayment is finalized, with the interest kept by the fund that made the payment.
On the version voted Mar 13, 2026: Creates the Vape Safety Act, requiring a state license ($1,200 annual fee) for vape or smoke shops. Sets applicant qualifications, requires shops to be at least 300 feet from churches, schools and daycares, regulates signs and sales, and sets criminal and administrative penalties.
As introduced, makes the Agriculture Commissioner the sole regulator of beekeeping and apiaries, overriding local rules, and requires clear and convincing evidence of damage for lawsuits against nearby farm operations.
Removes the January 1, 2021 cutoff on indexing hunting and fishing license and stamp fees, so the Natural Resources director may keep proposing rule increases tied to the Consumer Price Index, rounded down to the nearest dollar.
On the version voted Apr 10, 2025: Allows a person operating a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped to ride standing astride the vehicle with both feet on the footpegs or pedals, facing forward, instead of only sitting on the seat.
Changes which insurance pays first for vehicles supplied by dealers, repair shops and rental or leasing companies. A driver's own coverage is primary for a permitted replacement vehicle with no separate charge; an employee's coverage is secondary when driving for work.
Voted against most of their party on 23 of 236 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (9), Health & care (5), Climate & energy (3)
Providing for a program allowing election official trainees to be appointed as election officials
What it does: Lets election-appointing bodies set up a program to appoint junior or senior students as election officials, with grade-average, approval and training requirements and only one participant per political party per prec…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–6, Republicans 79–8
Relating to changing the allocation of proceeds in the Medical Cannabis Program Fund.
What it does: On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Directs $5 million of the medical cannabis fund to a court child protection pilot and $5 million to homelessness services in June 2026, sends the rest to general revenue, then splits…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–6, Republicans 45–40
Providing for a program allowing election official trainees to be appointed as election officials
What it does: On the version voted Mar 14, 2026: Lets election-appointing bodies set up a program to appoint junior or senior students as election officials, with grade-average, approval and training requirements and only one parti…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–5, Republicans 81–5
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 5694 · WV HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.
YesVOTED
Motion: Constitutional Rule Suspended
Amends the 2026 budget's State Department of Education appropriations, funded from the unappropriated General Revenue surplus; the amended list includes $8,000,000 for a Hancock County Board of Education financial stability loan program.
Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.
YesVOTED
Motion: Effective from passage
Amends the 2026 budget's State Department of Education appropriations, funded from the unappropriated General Revenue surplus; the amended list includes $8,000,000 for a Hancock County Board of Education financial stability loan program.
Relating to reducing the regulatory burden on utility companies when constructing and maintaining electric power generation and transmission facilities within this state
Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds
NoVOTED
Motion: House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment
Lets people aged 18 to 20 who are U.S. citizens or legal residents and not prohibited from possessing firearms carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license; repeals the offense of carrying without a license for those under 21.
Permitting certain teachers to be certified to work as school principals
YesVOTED
Motion: Passed House
Allows teachers with at least 15 years' experience at the elementary, middle or high school level to be certified as principals at that level after completing a year-long Department of Education program in school administration, beginning July 1, 2026.
Permitting lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations
YesVOTED
Motion: Passed House
Makes it lawful to prescribe, distribute and market a drug containing psilocybin, including crystalline polymorph psilocybin compositions, if the FDA approves it and the DEA reschedules it, despite its Schedule I listing.
Clarifying Commissioner of Agriculture's authority to regulate bees
NoVOTED
Motion: Passed House
As introduced, makes the Agriculture Commissioner the sole regulator of beekeeping and apiaries, overriding local rules, and requires clear and convincing evidence of damage for lawsuits against nearby farm operations.