Education (Higher Education)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5384: To authorize the HEPC to be able to adjust the required composite testing score for ACT and SAT in regard to PROMISE scholarship year to year in order to maximize the number of awards

HB 5384 authorizes West Virginia's Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) to annually adjust the required composite ACT/SAT scores for the PROMISE scholarship program. This change directly affects West Virginia students applying for PROMISE scholarships, which cover tuition costs at state colleges and universities. The bill allows HEPC to modify the minimum test score thresholds each year to maximize the number of eligible students, without altering the $4,750 award cap or other eligibility requirements like GPA or citizenship. The goal is to ensure scholarship funds are distributed to the highest number of qualifying students based on annual testing data.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables HEPC to adjust test score thresholds annually to maximize PROMISE scholarship recipients, directly expanding access to higher education funding without reducing award amounts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 4798: Permitting teachers to wear a “mobile alert button” for emergency situations, to be known as “Alyssa’s Law.”

HB 4798 requires all West Virginia schools to implement a wearable panic alert system called "Alyssa's Law" for staff by December 31, 2026. The bill mandates that every school staff member (including teachers) receives a device capable of instantly triggering 9-1-1 calls and campus-wide lockdowns while integrating with local emergency systems. Schools must also provide annual training on device use and share security data (like cameras and maps) with law enforcement. This policy directly affects all school staff across the state and aims to improve emergency response during crises. The bill is currently in committee review and has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety systems for K-12 staff, directly protecting educators and students per 'Alyssa's Law' requirements, aligning with 'protect' indicator in education support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety Teachers

passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 27, 2026

HB 4081: To create the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant.

HB 4081 creates the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant program for West Virginia public colleges with multiple campuses. The bill requires these institutions to use grant funds to establish campus food and health aid stations, specifically for non-perishable food items and basic hygiene products like toothpaste, sanitary supplies, and first-aid items. Funds cannot cover fresh food, medical care, or prescription items. Institutions must track all purchases and inventory monthly, and submit annual reports to the Higher Education Policy Commission detailing program impact on student food/hygiene insecurity.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding campus food/health aid stations for students, directly supporting educational access and basic needs at public colleges.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health

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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

Sub-Topics Higher Education

passed · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 445: Adding Potomac State College as eligible institution for participation in Learn and Earn Program

SB 445 adds Potomac State College of West Virginia University as an eligible institution for West Virginia's Learn and Earn Program, making its participation permanent instead of temporary. The bill removes the previous "pilot program" designation for Potomac State, which had limited eligibility through the 2025-2026 academic year. The Learn and Earn Program allows students in technical programs to work with participating employers while studying, requiring employers to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match (not in-kind contributions) for student salaries. This change directly affects Potomac State College students and employers partnering with the college to offer paid work-study opportunities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill permanently expands Potomac State College's eligibility in Learn and Earn Program, enhancing student access to work-study opportunities in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 551: Restoring voting rights to faculty, student, and employee members of institutional boards of governors

SB 551 amends West Virginia law to restore voting rights for faculty, student, and employee members currently serving as nonvoting advisors on boards of governors at 19 public universities and community colleges. The bill changes their status from "nonvoting, advisory" to full voting members, directly affecting institutions like West Virginia University, Marshall University, and West Virginia State University. Key provisions remove the nonvoting designation from statutes governing these positions, allowing faculty (rank of instructor or above), students (in good academic standing), and employees (classified or non-classified) to vote on board decisions. This policy change aims to increase institutional representation without altering board composition or appointment processes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRestores voting rights for faculty/student/employee members on university boards, strengthening stakeholder governance in higher education institutions per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 166: Relating to eligibility for WV Invests Grant Program

SB 166 amends West Virginia's WV Invests Grant Program to include associate degrees and certificates in emergency medical services (EMS) as eligible post-secondary programs. This change directly affects West Virginia residents pursuing EMS credentials by allowing them to qualify for the grant, which covers tuition and fees at participating institutions. The bill modifies the eligibility requirements in §18C-9-5(a)(8) to explicitly include EMS programs, without altering other existing grant terms like residency, academic standards, or the repayment agreement for graduates who leave the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands grant eligibility for EMS associate degrees, increasing access to higher education funding and aligning with educational access indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds EMS education grants, expanding healthcare workforce training for emergency services by including EMS credentials in grant eligibility.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands grant eligibility for EMS credentials, enabling workforce development in a critical labor sector by reducing education barriers for future workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 4905: Removing fees teachers have to pay in order to obtain any teaching license, certification, or additional continuing education credit hours (reporting fee) to the state Board of Education

HB 4905 removes all fees West Virginia teachers pay to the state for obtaining or renewing teaching licenses, certifications, and registering continuing education credit hours. The bill requires the West Virginia Department of Education to eliminate these fees by January 30, 2027, and to reimburse teachers for tuition and fees related to courses taken for certification renewal or additional endorsements in subject areas with teacher shortages. Reimbursement is capped at 15 semester hours per teacher per year for either purpose. This directly affects West Virginia teachers seeking to maintain or expand their teaching credentials through state-recognized pathways.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes state fees for teachers and mandates reimbursement for certification courses, providing financial relief and funding for teacher certification (addressing shortages), aligning with tax relief and essential program support.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves teacher licensing/continuing education fees and mandates reimbursement for certification renewal, directly reducing financial burdens on educators and supporting teacher retention in shortage areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 202: Exempting certain military veterans and their dependents from tuition

SB 202 would exempt certain military veterans and their families from tuition and fees at West Virginia’s public colleges and universities. It specifically covers: (1) spouses and children of veterans killed in action, missing in action, or who died while serving; (2) disabled veterans with 90%+ service-connected disabilities (since 9/11); and (3) spouses and children of active-duty veterans who died or went missing in service. To qualify, applicants must be West Virginia residents, apply for FAFSA, exhaust other tuition aid, and maintain academic standards. The exemption applies only to undergraduate programs and does not cover special fees like lab costs or parking. The bill is pending in committee and not yet law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts veterans' families from tuition, increasing access to higher education through direct financial support for eligible students.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExempts eligible veterans' families from tuition fees, expanding educational benefits for covered groups per bill's specific provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4533: Including Potomac State College in the definition of community and technical college education program for participation in the “Learn and Earn Program”

HB 4533 amends West Virginia law to permanently include Potomac State College of West Virginia University as an eligible institution for the "Learn and Earn Program." This program allows students to work with employers while studying technical programs, earning a salary and gaining work experience. The bill removes the previous "pilot" designation for Potomac State, making its participation in the program permanent rather than temporary. This directly affects Potomac State students seeking affordable, work-based technical education opportunities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPermanently includes Potomac State College in Learn and Earn Program, expanding student access to work-study opportunities in technical education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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