To establish the West Virginia Freedom and Innovation Pilot Act of 2026
HB 4950 establishes the West Virginia Freedom and Innovation Pilot Act of 2026, creating a voluntary program for any West Virginia county to join. Participating counties would receive $5,775 per enrolled student (as of December 2025) with a 1% annual funding increase if enrollment grows, while being exempt from state-mandated staffing ratios, service quotas, and central salary schedules - though they must still follow the Third Grade Success Act and federal requirements. Counties in the program maintain full control over school calendars, class sizes, salaries, and benefits, but administrative costs are capped at 7% of their total annual budget. The pilot begins July 1, 2026, and will be reviewed by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by July 1, 2031, after which it will sunset unless extended.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 29, 2026
Last action Feb 17, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
0
Committee
4
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
To House Education
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
To House Educational Choice
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
To House Education
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
To Education then Finance
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mike Hornby
RRepublican
Co
Joe Funkhouser
RRepublican
Co
Kathie Hess Crouse
RRepublican
Co
Mark Dean
RRepublican
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