SB 689 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Creating WV Homeschool Student Athletics Participation Act

SB 689 modifies West Virginia's athletic eligibility rules for transfer students by limiting the grade levels where students can switch schools without losing eligibility. The bill requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to update its rules so students in grades 9 and 10 (instead of grades 9-12) may transfer once and retain athletic eligibility. This change directly affects high school students who move schools, particularly those in ninth and tenth grade. The policy shifts the eligibility window to the first two years of high school, as specified in the bill's amendment to §18-2-25e. The Commission must implement this change by the 2026-2027 school year.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill was completely rewritten from a version that limited student transfer eligibility to grades 9-10 into a new law allowing homeschool students to participate in interscholastic athletics. The change represents a fundamental shift from regulating student transfers to creating a new framework for homeschool athletic participation.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from regulating student transfer eligibility to creating a new section (§18-2-25f) that specifically governs homeschool student athletic participation against traditional schools.

SCOPE

Removed provisions limiting student transfer eligibility to grades 9-10 and allowing one transfer without losing athletic eligibility.

Added new section establishing the West Virginia Homeschool Student Athletics Participation Act.

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'homeschool student', 'homeschool organization', 'WVSSAC', and 'member school'.

ELIGIBILITY

Established eligibility requirements for homeschool students including health and safety guidelines, rule compliance, insurance coverage, and school willingness to schedule games.

REQUIREMENT

Added restrictions preventing homeschool teams from affecting official rankings, standings, or postseason eligibility.

ENFORCEMENT

Added oversight responsibilities for WVSSAC including dispute resolution through a designated committee with appeals to the State Board of Education.

TIMELINE

Changed session year from 2026 regular session with January 30 introduction date to February 26 committee report date.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

30–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 33

Mar 2, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

28 Yea 3

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2026

Committee

To House Education

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Committee

To Education

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 275)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

To Education

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors