West Virginia Students Rally for Increased Tobacco Prevention Funding

High school advocates call on legislators to allocate $5 million from Rainy Day fund for smoking cessation programs

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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High school students from across West Virginia rallied at the state capitol, dressed in ponchos and carrying umbrellas, to advocate for House Bill 5108 which would direct $5 million from the state's Rainy Day fund to tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The state currently spends just over $300,000 annually on these efforts, far below the $27 million recommended by the CDC, as West Virginia has the highest adult smoking rate and over 28.5% of high school students use tobacco products.

Why it matters

West Virginia has the highest smoking-attributable cancer death rate in the country, with nearly 38% of cancer deaths linked to smoking. The student advocates are pushing for increased state funding to combat the state's high tobacco use rates, especially among youth, through prevention and cessation programs.

The details

House Bill 5108 has been introduced in the state legislature but has not progressed beyond the Finance and Banking and Insurance committees. The $5 million proposed in the bill is a small fraction of the nearly $1.4 billion held in West Virginia's two Rainy Day funds, which the students argue should be tapped to address the state's tobacco epidemic.

  • The annual Tobacco Free Day rally at the state capitol took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • House Bill 5108 has been introduced in the current legislative session.

The players

House Bill 5108

A bill introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates that would direct $5 million from the state's Rainy Day fund to tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Breanna Cutright

A senior at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia who is a youth advocate working to stop smoking and tobacco use.

Doug Hogan

The Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, who spoke in support of the funding bill at the rally.

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What they’re saying

“When a youth comes forward and says, 'This is something that I'm passionate about, this is something that needs to be changed,' it changes the way that our lawmakers and leaders of West Virginia understand and see that issue.”

— Breanna Cutright, High school student (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

“House Bill 5108 directs $5 million of interest from the Rainy Day B fund into tobacco prevention. That $5 million really is a drop in the rain bucket, or the rain gauge, so to speak.”

— Doug Hogan, Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.