Del. Rep. Bryan Smith, R-Taylor, will return to the West Virginia Capitol for the 2026 legislative session in a wheelchair after being partially paralyzed by numerous surgeries last year. (Photo by Amelia Ferrell Knisely/West Virginia Watch)
West Virginia House of Representatives member Bryan Smith will sit this session in a wheelchair after being partially paralyzed from numerous surgeries over the past year.
Smith, 55, will be kept at a medical facility during the session and transported to the state Capitol for the 60-day legislative session starts on Wednesday.
“My main motivation is that I didn’t want to feel like I was letting my county and my district down,” said Smith, a Republican who took the oath of office last year represent Taylor County and part of Marion County. He replaced longtime House Speaker and Republican Amy Summers, who retired from the Legislature.
“I want to do my best for Taylor County and District 73,” Smith said.
His medical emergency began last May, not long after the end of the 2025 legislative session. Smith underwent surgery that led to sedate complications, including internal bleeding. This led to emergency surgery.
After returning to Grafton, West Virginia, Smith said his dog whined incessantly in slow July while placing her paw and head on his stomach, where he felt pain.
“She kept talking, so I finally said, ‘Hey, if you’re that worried, we got it checked out,’ and I’m glad we did because when we finally got to the emergency room at Ruby Hospital, I found out I had an internal hernia,” Smith said.
After a series of other medical issues and surgeries, including the removal of part of his intestines and back surgery, Smith woke up on Dec. 2 with no feeling in his legs.
Smith said medics “have no idea what led to my paralysis.” He has now regained feeling in his toes and legs, but is still dependent on a wheelchair.
Medical staff will assist Smith during his day at the State Capitol, where he serves on numerous committees. Smith works as an administrative assistant at West Virginia University Medicine; He said his job was to provide him with medical assistance during this time.
“I have a little movement in both legs, that’s one of the reasons [WVU Medicine] “I transferred myself here because I’m not ready to resign because I didn’t want to leave Taylor County without representation,” Smith said.
“If I could find a way to make this happen, I wanted to do it, and if I couldn’t, I was ready to resign,” he added.
Completed in the 1930s, the State Capitol can be hard to navigate in a wheelchair due to its layout and tight spaces.
“There are a lot of tight spaces, especially getting out of the offices is very, very tight … and when I got through security and through the metal detectors, I picked up about one the other day,” he said.
Smith’s desk was moved to the House floor to accommodate his wheelchair.
In his first year, Smith sponsored or co-sponsored 57 pieces of legislation, including a bill calling for stricter laws Voter ID Requirements this year. The measureThe law, signed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, requires a photo ID — typically a driver’s license, passport or state ID card — to vote in person. That eliminated several identity verification options previously accepted at polling places, including a Medicaid card and a utility bill.
Smith joined other House Republicans in supporting a bill last year would ban homeless people from camping on public land throughout West Virginia. The measure sought to impose fines of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail for homeless people who apply camping paraphernalia, including tarps, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets or portable cooking equipment and similar equipment, on government or public lands, grounds or lawns. It passed the House of Representatives, but the Senate did not take the bill up for a vote.
This year, he plans to focus on an anti-spoofing law to protect residents and develop what he calls a comprehensive approach to helping West Virginians experiencing homelessness and substance apply disorders.
“We need to get them real help and give them the opportunity to get back on their feet,” Smith said. “So that’s something that’s very close to my heart.”
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw told reporters that Republicans had taken the lead House will be focused on economic development and job creation during the upcoming 60-day session. As part of the focus on workforce development, Hanshaw said lawmakers will consider another raise for the state’s teachers and school support staff.
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