Creating a moratorium for two years on school closures and providing for a pause on impending school closures.

HB 5434 creates a two-year moratorium on school closures or consolidations in West Virginia counties, directly affecting county school boards making such decisions. The bill requires county boards to prepare written reasons and impact statements detailing effects on students (including transportation time), finances, enrollment capacity, staff, and communities before proceeding. It mandates public hearings with specific notice requirements and input from school improvement councils, and pauses closures related to optional emergency levy elections. The moratorium allows time for revising school funding formulas while ensuring transparent, data-driven closure decisions.