Adding Potomac State College as eligible institution for participation in Learn and Earn Program
SB 445 adds Potomac State College of West Virginia University as an eligible institution for West Virginia's Learn and Earn Program, making its participation permanent instead of temporary. The bill removes the previous "pilot program" designation for Potomac State, which had limited eligibility through the 2025-2026 academic year. The Learn and Earn Program allows students in technical programs to work with participating employers while studying, requiring employers to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match (not in-kind contributions) for student salaries. This change directly affects Potomac State College students and employers partnering with the college to offer paid work-study opportunities.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2026
Last action Jan 30, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Jan 29, 2026
How they voted
33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Jan 29, 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
17
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
To House Education
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
To Education
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 24)
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
To Education
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jay Taylor
RRepublican
Co
Bill Hamilton
RRepublican
Co
Mike Oliverio
RRepublican
Co
Randy Smith
RRepublican
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