HB 5048 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

To ensure virtual instruction for foster students while in temporary placement facilities.

HB 5048 ensures foster children in temporary care facilities continue their education through virtual learning while awaiting residential placement. It requires that virtual instruction occur in the county where the child was last enrolled (or the current county if unavailable, or the nearest capable county), and mandates that virtual learning begins within three days of placement in temporary care. Foster care agencies responsible for the child must receive IT training to support this transition. Once placed with a foster family, all educational records and virtual learning details are transferred to the new county and foster family. The bill directly affects foster children in temporary care and the agencies managing their placement.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed Jun 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

hb5048 s sch am _1 3-6 adopted.htm Enrolled Version · 5 edits · Apr 1, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was finalized from a committee amendment draft to an enrolled version, adding specific operational details to the education requirements for foster children awaiting placement. The changes clarify that virtual learning must occur in the child's last enrolled county or current residence, set a strict three-day start deadline, mandate IT training for caregivers paid by the state, and establish procedures for transferring enrollment data to new foster families.
Scope change
The scope was expanded from a general right to education to include specific logistical rules regarding which school district provides the education, the timeline for starting classes, and the training requirements for the individuals caring for the child.
REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that virtual learning must be provided by the county where the child was last enrolled or currently resides, with a fallback to a charter school if neither has the capability.

Added a requirement to transfer the child's virtual learning and enrollment information to the new foster family and the new county upon placement.

TIMELINE

Established a new deadline requiring virtual instruction to begin within three days of the child entering temporary care.

FISCAL

Mandated that the state Department of Education must provide and pay for IT training for the individual or organization responsible for the foster child.

TECHNICAL

Removed committee amendment markers and added official certification signatures and legislative metadata to finalize the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 13, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

330
Passed
Total votes 33
Mar 13, 2026
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
31 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Apr 1, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 673)
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 554)
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass, with amendment
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 239)
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Introduced
Amendment reported by the Clerk
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
To House Education
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
To Education
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors