HB 4090 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Provide for the employment or acceptance as avolunteer of a Certified Chaplain by public school board

HB 4090 allows West Virginia county school boards to hire or accept as volunteers certified chaplains to provide support services for students, staff, and parents. The bill requires chaplains to undergo background checks like child care workers but exempts them from needing state certification or licensing. School boards must also prohibit sex offenders or child predators from serving. Chaplains are granted liability protection for actions taken in their role, unless those actions were maliciously intended to harass or intimidate. The bill directly affects public school districts across West Virginia by expanding their ability to provide spiritual support services.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Jan 19, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
To House Public Education
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
To House Education
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
To Education
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors