Technology

The Future Ready Education Act allows West Virginia school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational technology with a technology licensing component, provided they document fiscal savings and include a 30-day cancellation clause. It extends the Mountain State Digital Project to cover grades 9-12 and adds tutoring in reading, math, science, and career-technical education. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers must complete training in the science of reading, with public charter school educators permitted to voluntarily participate. The bill directly affects school districts, K-5 teachers, and students in public schools across West Virginia.

HB 5060 creates a new legal framework called the "Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Association Act" in West Virginia, establishing a recognized entity type for nonprofit groups operating without formal incorporation. It requires these associations to have at least 100 members with mutual consent for a common nonprofit purpose, allows them to use digital tools (like blockchain and smart contracts) for governance and voting, and prohibits profit distributions to members except for reasonable compensation for services. The bill clarifies that any profits must support the organization's nonprofit mission, outlines member rights and duties, and grants the Secretary of State rulemaking authority to implement the law. This directly affects nonprofits seeking a flexible, digital-friendly structure while maintaining legal recognition under West Virginia law.

HB 5454 creates a legislative select committee to oversee West Virginia's Fusion Center, which collects and shares law enforcement intelligence. The committee - composed of balanced House and Senate members with security clearances - gains access to Fusion Center operations for review, but cannot view classified federal information or personal details like addresses or identities. The bill mandates annual audits of the Fusion Center, establishes privacy safeguards for handling sensitive data, and requires committee meetings to remain confidential under state law. This directly affects the Fusion Center's oversight structure and its interactions with state legislators.