Education

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5048: To ensure virtual instruction for foster students while in temporary placement facilities.

HB 5048 ensures foster children in temporary care facilities continue their education through virtual learning while awaiting residential placement. It requires that virtual instruction occur in the county where the child was last enrolled (or the current county if unavailable, or the nearest capable county), and mandates that virtual learning begins within three days of placement in temporary care. Foster care agencies responsible for the child must receive IT training to support this transition. Once placed with a foster family, all educational records and virtual learning details are transferred to the new county and foster family. The bill directly affects foster children in temporary care and the agencies managing their placement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates virtual instruction continuity for foster youth in temporary care, expanding K-12 educational access during placement transitions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4087: To create a West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance.

HB 4087 establishes the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance Partnership to strengthen academic, cultural, and workforce connections between West Virginia and Ireland. It creates a formal partnership requiring five four-year universities and five two-year colleges in West Virginia to collaborate with Irish institutions. The bill provides for five $50,000 grants to fund joint programs between these institutions. This partnership is governed by a commission with specific membership rules, including legislative and community representatives. The bill directly affects West Virginia higher education institutions and their Irish counterparts through structured collaboration and grant opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $250,000 in state grants for education partnerships, increasing government spending on higher education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $50,000 grants for joint higher education programs between WV and Ireland, strengthening academic collaboration and funding international partnerships.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4765: Teacher, School Personnel, and State Police Pay Raise

HB 4765 increases annual base salaries for West Virginia State Police officers, public school teachers, school service personnel, and forensic laboratory staff, effective July 1, 2026. The bill establishes specific salary schedules for police ranks (e.g., troopers, sergeants, captains), school personnel, and forensic roles (e.g., evidence custodians, forensic scientists), with detailed pay tables showing incremental increases. It directly affects over 10,000 state employees across law enforcement, education, and forensic services. The legislation provides fixed annual salary adjustments based on position and length of service, with no additional provisions beyond these compensation changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates increased state budget for public employee salaries (10,000+ positions), establishing specific pay tables and funding increments effective 2026.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly increases base salaries for public school teachers and school personnel, advancing educator compensation and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4028: Relating to sales tax on construction materials

HB 4028 exempts construction contractors from West Virginia's sales and use taxes on building materials and services used for constructing, repairing, or improving public elementary, secondary, or vocational school facilities. This applies to materials permanently installed in school buildings (like framing, wiring, or plumbing), but excludes tools, equipment, gasoline, or motor vehicle purchases. The bill directly affects contractors working on public school projects by reducing their costs for qualifying materials. It clarifies that this exemption applies to both state-level and municipal sales taxes on eligible school construction work. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, with no new revenue impact on the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts contractors from sales tax on school construction materials, reducing costs for public school infrastructure projects, aligning with tax relief for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts school construction materials from sales tax, reducing costs for facility improvements which directly supports school infrastructure funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 63: Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act

SB 63 amends West Virginia's charter school application rules by adding detailed requirements for new or converted public charter schools. It mandates applicants to submit specific elements including a mission statement with academic focus, student achievement goals, governance structure plans, enrollment strategies, five-year budgets, and plans for serving students with disabilities or language needs. The bill does not specifically target rural schools (despite its title), as these requirements apply broadly to all charter school applications statewide. This procedural change affects school applicants seeking approval to establish or convert public charter schools, focusing on transparency and accountability in the application process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires charter school applicants to include academic focus, student achievement goals, and plans for serving diverse students, enhancing educational quality and access without restricting funding or curriculum.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 502: Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act

SB 502 establishes permanent endowments to protect women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs at West Virginia’s public NCAA Division I universities. It requires that only endowment earnings - not principal - fund scholarships, coaching, equipment, and facilities for these programs. The bill creates tax credits (50% of donations) for private contributions and matching funds for institutions that document verified operational savings (e.g., energy efficiency, shared services), while prohibiting cuts to academic programs or Title IX compliance. All endowments must undergo annual audits, and institutions must report on cost savings, donations, and Title IX adherence to the state education commission.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates 50% tax credits for donations to fund women's sports programs, directly providing tax relief to incentivize private contributions toward program funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates permanent endowments and tax credits to fund/protect women's collegiate sports programs at public universities, directly strengthening higher education athletic funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 490: Approving short-term training programs for eligibility for federal Workforce Pell Grants

This bill establishes a process for determining which short-term workforce training programs in West Virginia qualify for federal Workforce Pell Grants. It directs the West Virginia Workforce Development Board to assess programs against federal criteria, define key terms, and require reporting from institutions offering eligible programs. The bill directly affects short-term training providers (like vocational courses or certifications) seeking federal funding to help workers access career-focused education. It creates a state-level mechanism to align local programs with federal grant requirements without changing the federal Pell Grant program itself. The summary focuses solely on the eligibility process, as described in the bill's provisions (§5B-12-1 through §5B-12-6).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables short-term workforce training programs to access federal Pell Grants, expanding educational access for career-focused training through funding eligibility.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enables federal funding for short-term workforce training programs, directly supporting worker access to career-focused education and employment opportunities through Pell Grants.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 402: Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act

SB 402 expands West Virginia's apprenticeship tax credit to $2 per hour (capped at $2,000 annually per apprentice) for wages paid to registered apprentices in construction trades, directly benefiting employers and apprentices. It creates a new West Virginia Micro-Credential Program under the Higher Education Policy Commission to support workforce training. The bill also modifies tax rules to allow deductions for contributions to and receipts from voluntary portable benefits plans, and removes proficiency exam requirements for military-trained applicants seeking professional licenses. These changes aim to increase workforce participation and simplify licensing for veterans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands apprenticeship tax credit ($2/hr, $2k cap) and allows tax deductions for portable benefits, providing business tax relief under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Micro-Credential Program under Higher Education Policy Commission for workforce training, advancing educational access and opportunity in higher education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands apprenticeship tax credits ($2/hr capped), creates workforce training program, and allows deductions for portable benefits plans - directly advancing worker opportunity and benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 155: Relating to adjunct teaching permits

This bill creates a new adjunct teaching permit in West Virginia that allows individuals without full teaching certification to fill vacant teaching positions, offer new programs, or supplement existing ones when certified teachers are unavailable. The permit is valid for one year and requires county school boards to repost the position annually, with renewal contingent on meeting basic performance standards. Key provisions include requiring mentor assignment, completion of specific training, prohibition on special education instruction, and flexible employment terms where compensation and benefits are mutually agreed upon between the school board and teacher.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by creating adjunct teaching permits to fill vacant positions and supplement programs, addressing teacher shortages.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

vetoed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 4002: Establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory

HB 4002 establishes the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University to connect state university research with practical needs of government and citizens. It directs the Collaboratory to focus on workforce development, education, economic growth, and environmental research, requiring state and local agencies to provide free access to infrastructure, personnel, and data for its projects. The bill sets specific funding rules, prohibiting university overhead fees on allocated funds and ensuring funds remain available until spent. An advisory group of legislators, university leaders, and public experts will guide research priorities and review reports, all while exempting advisory meetings from public record requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes higher education collaborative at Marshall University with dedicated funding, prohibits overhead fees, and explicitly prioritizes education as a core focus area for research and workforce development.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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