Education (Higher Education)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5249: Limiting the use of state funding under the Hope Scholarship Program for out-of-state private schools and providers

HB 5249 would amend West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program to prohibit the use of state funds for private school tuition or educational services provided by out-of-state schools or providers. This change directly affects families who currently use Hope Scholarship funds to pay for education at schools or services located outside West Virginia. The bill restricts all scholarship funds to only in-state private schools and educational service providers within West Virginia. As a result, families seeking to use state-funded scholarships for out-of-state education would no longer be eligible for that funding.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts state funding to in-state schools only, limiting educational access for families using scholarships at out-of-state providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5245: Creating the Governor’s Cup competition

HB 5245 creates the "Governor's Cup Challenge," a yearly athletic competition between Marshall University and West Virginia University in NCAA Division I sports. The winning school earns points based on game outcomes, with the annual champion receiving 65% of scholarship funds generated from 20% of game-related revenue (tickets, merchandise, concessions). These funds support scholarships for West Virginia high school athletes who participated in sports but did not receive athletic scholarships to in-state colleges and are now pursuing degrees at those institutions. The program is administered by the university system's vice chancellor for administration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds K-12 scholarships for athletes via sports revenue, directly supporting educational access for students excluded from athletic scholarships.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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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 Feb 23, 2026

HB 4587: Prohibiting public funds from supporting low-earning outcome postsecondary degree programs

HB 4587 prohibits West Virginia state and local public funds from supporting postsecondary degree programs classified as "low-earning outcome" under federal standards. It requires the Higher Education Policy Council to adopt rules blocking state funding - including student aid, operational costs, and capital grants - for these programs, and to annually report on prohibited programs and fiscal impacts. The bill directly affects public colleges, universities, and students enrolled in degrees deemed low-earning by federal criteria (per Public Law 119-21, Section 84001). It takes effect immediately upon passage, restricting state and local government funding for specific degree programs without specifying exact income thresholds.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits state funding for 'low-earning outcome' programs, directly restricting public expenditure on higher education through defunding mechanisms.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly defunds low-earning outcome higher education programs by prohibiting state funding, directly restricting financial support for specific degree programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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