Bring them Home Fund.
HB 4021 creates the "Bring Them Home Fund" to finance renovating existing state properties for in-state residential treatment facilities serving children requiring acute psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, or trauma services. Managed by the West Virginia Department of Human Services, the fund will be funded through state appropriations, grants, donations, and investment income, with savings from reduced out-of-state placements reinvested into the fund. Key provisions authorize the department to renovate state properties, develop targeted treatment programs matching historically out-of-state placements, and partner with private entities to operate state-owned facilities. This aims to expand West Virginia’s child welfare provider network, keeping children closer to family support while lowering costs associated with out-of-state care.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 15, 2026
Last action Jan 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced Version
→
Committee Substitute
·
6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was substantially rewritten from its original version, shifting from creating a new article and fund focused on renovating state properties to establishing a comprehensive commission to study residential placement of children and creating a fund with broader purposes. The new version adds detailed findings about systemic reform needs, establishes a multi-agency commission with specific study requirements, and expands fund disbursement options to include renovating private facilities and operating facilities through nonstate entities.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a narrow focus on renovating state properties to include a broader mandate for studying and improving the entire residential placement system, involving multiple state agencies and focusing on reducing out-of-state placements through systemic reform.
REQUIREMENT
Created a Commission to Study the Residential Placement of Children with 13 specific study areas including reducing out-of-state placements by 10% annually and 50% within three years
Added annual reporting requirements to the Legislative Oversight Commission with specific implementation plans and timelines
FISCAL
Expanded fund disbursement purposes to include renovating private facilities and operating facilities through nonstate government entities
TIMELINE
Added expiration date of July 1, 2030 to the fund provisions
SCOPE
Removed the original article structure and replaced with commission-based approach under existing Article 2 of the Code
DEFINITION
Added detailed legislative findings about fragmented child welfare systems and the need for integrated care approaches
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
4
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
To House Finance
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
By substitute, do pass
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
To House Health and Human Resources
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
To Health and Human Resources then Finance
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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