Relating to authorizing legislative rules regarding higher education
HB 5354 authorizes the continued use of multiple existing legislative rules governing West Virginia's higher education programs, including scholarship initiatives like the Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship and PROMISE. It amends one rule (Medical Student Loan Program) to require U.S. citizenship or legal immigrant status for eligibility and repeals two outdated rules related to purchasing efficiencies and a research trust fund program. The bill does not create new programs but formalizes current administrative practices under the Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College Education. This procedural bill affects state education agencies and institutions managing these programs.
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 9, 2026
Signed Jun 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed Version
→
Enrolled Version
·
5 edits
·
Apr 1, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an 'Engrossed' draft to an 'Enrolled' final version, which involves significant substantive changes. The scope of authorized rules was updated to reflect new programs and recent dates, while several older rules were repealed. Additionally, the bill was amended to include specific repeals for purchasing efficiency and research trust fund rules, and to authorize a new Mental Health Loan Repayment Program.
Scope change
The bill's scope was updated to authorize new legislative rules for recent years (2019-2025) and to explicitly repeal specific rules regarding purchasing efficiencies and the research trust fund program that were previously authorized.
TIMELINE
The dates for authorizing various legislative rules were updated from historical dates (2004-2016) to reflect filings made between 2019 and 2025.
REQUIREMENT
New provisions were added to authorize the Mental Health Loan Repayment Program and the Administrative Exemption program.
Provisions authorizing rules for purchasing efficiencies and the research trust fund program were changed from authorization to repeal.
SCOPE
New rules were added to authorize the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Nontraditional Degree (STAND) Program for community and technical colleges.
ELIGIBILITY
The amendment regarding the Medical Student Loan Program was retained, requiring United States citizenship or legal immigrant status for applicants.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026
How they voted
33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Mar 11, 2026
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
38
Key actions
7
Committee
5
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 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 468)
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
To Education
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 243)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
To House Education
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
To Education
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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