Week of January 26, 2026

As the West Virginia Legislature entered its second full week of session, lawmakers intensified their focus on key education issues, with significant discussion of finance-related issues occurring in both the House and Senate. Although HB 4574 and HB 4575 previously passed the House quickly, the Senate Education Committee asked questions about HB 4574 but took no action, as lawmakers are taking a closer look now that the state has assumed control of Hancock County Schools and the immediate crisis has been stabilized. Click to read more on this media link. During a House Findings Report, Lawmakers were advised to cap the HOPE scholarship. Click to read more on this media link. 

Senate

• SB 155 - Relating to adjunct teaching permits. The legislation creates an adjunct teaching permit that allows qualified individuals to teach when no fully certified teacher in the subject area is available. Adjunct teachers may be hired part-time or full-time, paid as agreed by the county board, work under a contract with a mentor, complete required training, and teach only in areas aligned with their experience, excluding special education. The committee discussed the difference between provisions for substitute teachers – and Committee Chair Amy Grady explained the key difference being the “adjunct” position would allow county boards of education to hire qualified industry professionals such as engineers to fill a vacancy in one class without the same full-day requirements for substitutes. Council noted that this bill previously passed the Senate in 2025 (as SB911). The bill passed out of committee and was recommended for passage in the Senate. This bill is a Policy Priority of the Education Alliance. 
• SB 196 - Relating generally to liability insurance coverage for the board of education. The purpose of this bill is to change the minimum amount of insurance that county boards of education must maintain- and applies, among other things, to instances where school property is used for a community activity. The committee substitute passed and the bill now goes to Finance with no fiscal note.  This bill is a Policy Priority of the Education Alliance. 
• SB 11 - Allowing certain Teachers Retirement System members to exchange unused leave for monetary compensation. The purpose of this bill is to reduce educator absenteeism by offering a cash bonus for unused personal leave. This bill passed in the Senate last session as SB37. The committee voted the bill do pass with original double committee reference and now heads to the Finance Committee.
• SB 516 - Increasing state minimum salary for teachers. The purpose of this bill is to establish a minimum salary of $50,000 for teachers and provide at least a $2,000 salary increase for all teachers; and provide a minimum salary increase of $1,200 for teachers providing math instruction and special education services. Several members of the committee raised questions regarding the fiscal implications of the bill. The decision of the Committee Chair was not to take action until details of the fiscal note are received.
• SB 102 - This bill establishes the Summer Feeding for All Program. The bill was introduced in the Senate and moved to the Education Committee. It was reported do pass, but first to the Senate Finance Committee.
• SB 388 - Requiring public elementary or secondary school make the Aitken Bible available to certain classrooms. This bill was introduced in the Senate, passed the Senate Education Committee on the third reading, and was communicated to the House. Click to read more on this media link.

House

• HB 4119 - This bill establishes the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program. It will provide last-dollar-in funding for early childhood education degrees for childcare workers. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Higher Education Committee; it is at Markup Discussion.
• HB 4656 - Relating to chronic absenteeism. The purpose of this bill is to remove truancy as a status offense, shift the absenteeism from punitive to preventative, and clarify the statutory provisions and procedures for chronic absenteeism. The bill was referred to the House Education Committee for markup discussion. Do pass, but first to House Judiciary.
• HB 4660 - To move any remaining sixth-grade classifications from elementary schools to middle schools. The bill states that, effective for the 2026/2027 school year, all sixth-grade students shall be reclassified and moved from elementary school to middle school. Any teacher reclassification will be included. The bill was referred to the House Education Committee for markup discussion.
• HB 4014 - Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act. The purpose of this bill is all related to the Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Initiatives Act including by establishing the West Virginia Micro-Credential Program, expanding the apprenticeship training tax credit, allowing for independent contractors to have portable benefits which hiring parties can contribute to without altering the nature of the relationship, providing for tax treatment of portable benefits, and eliminating barriers to professional licensures for military trained applicants. This bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Education Committee for markup discussion.  By substitute, do pass, but first to House Finance.

Week of January 19, 2026

This week, the House of Delegates moved quickly to pass bills aimed at helping Hancock County Schools make payroll by creating an emergency school fund and approving an $8 million loan. The bills are now on hold in the Senate, where lawmakers said teacher and staff paychecks are secure for now and warned that the Legislature needs a broader, long-term plan to address financial problems facing school districts across the state. The delay has sparked frustration from some senators who represent Hancock County, while others say the focus should be on accountability and preventing similar crises in the future. Click to read more in this media link.

House

HB 4575 - This bill provides for making a Supplemental Appropriation to the State Board of Education. The bill passed the House, was introduced in the Senate, and was referred to the Finance Committee.

HB 4574 - To provide for condition-based emergency funding for financially distressed counties; establishing the fund that shall continue in existence for use by the State Board in the event the Legislature appropriates funds to meet other temporary county board shortfalls of funding. The bill passed the House and was introduced to the Senate. The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee, then to the Finance Committee. Click to read more in this media link.

HB 4087 - To create a West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance. The bill was introduced in the House and moved to the House Education Committee.  With Markup Discussion, and by substitute, the bill do pass but first to Finance. 

HB 4014 - The purpose of this bill is all related to the Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Initiatives Act including by establishing the West Virginia Micro-Credential Program, expanding the apprenticeship training tax credit, allowing for independent contractors to have portable benefits which hiring parties can contribute to without altering the nature of the relationship, providing for tax treatment of portable benefits, and eliminating barriers to professional licensures for military trained applicants. The bill was introduced in the House and resides in the House Education Markup Discussion.

HB 4422 - To permit students in eighth and ninth grade to attend summer school. This bill addresses the academic eligibility requirements for student participation in fall athletic sports. The bill was introduced in the House and resides in the House Education Committee, Markup Discussion.

HB 4656 - The purpose of this bill is to remove truancy as a status offense, shift the focus on absenteeism from punitive to preventive, and clarify the statutory provisions and procedures for chronic absenteeism. The bill was introduced in the House and is currently with the House Education Committee.

HB 4660 - To move any remaining sixth-grade classifications from elementary schools to middle schools. The bill was introduced in the House and is currently with the House Education Committee.

Senate

SB 166 - Relating to eligibility for WV Invests Grant Program. The purpose of this bill is to extend the West Virginia Invests Grant Program eligibility requirements to an associate degree or certificate in a post-secondary program for emergency medical services. The bill was introduced in the Senate Education Committee, reported do pass, but was first referred to the Finance Committee.

SB 171 - The purpose of this bill is to create the West Virginia Released Time Education Act. “Released time course" means a course in religious instruction taught by an independent sponsoring entity, for which a student is excused from school to attend. "School district" means county school districts and public charter school districts as otherwise provided for in this bill. The bill provides for a title. The bill creates definitions. The bill provides for released time excusal policies, credit, and remedies. The bill was introduced in the Senate and is in the Education Committee.

SB 428 - The purpose of this bill is to create three separate job titles for school bus operators based on years of service. The bill was introduced in the Senate, moved to Education, a Committee substitute was reported, but first to Finance.

SB 388 - Requiring public elementary or secondary schools to make the Aitken Bible available in certain classrooms. This bill was introduced in the Senate and resides in the Education Committee.