SB 618 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Prohibiting public funds from supporting low-earning outcome postsecondary degree programs

Senate Bill 618 prohibits West Virginia state and local public funds from supporting postsecondary degree programs identified as having "low-earning outcomes" under federal standards. It requires the Higher Education Policy Council to adopt rules blocking state funding - covering student aid, operational costs, grants, and facilities - from such programs and to annually report on blocked programs and fiscal impacts. This directly affects public universities and colleges receiving state funding, as well as students enrolled in designated programs. The bill implements a policy change by tying state education funding eligibility to graduate earnings data, rather than program content or accreditation.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Jan 27, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
To Education
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
To Education then Finance
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Patricia Rucker
Patricia Rucker
RRepublican
WV
16