This bill requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study women's collegiate sports programs in West Virginia, focusing on financial sustainability, name image and likeness impacts, and Title IX obligations. The study will examine current funding levels, endowment feasibility, revenue-sharing models, and operational efficiency methods to support female student-athletes. The committee must submit a report by January 1, 2027, to state officials with findings, conclusions, and potential legislative recommendations. Funding for the study will come from existing legislative appropriations to the committee.
This bill directs the West Virginia House of Delegates to hold additional interim committee meetings during calendar year 2026, in addition to the meetings already scheduled by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. It grants the Speaker of the House the authority to set the specific dates, times, and locations for these meetings, with public notice required for each session. Delegates attending these interim meetings will receive compensation and expense reimbursement consistent with existing state laws governing legislative services. The measure aims to provide legislators with more opportunities to investigate issues, develop policy, and shape legislative direction before the upcoming session.
HB 5286 adds $1.5 million in supplemental funding from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance to the Department of Homeland Security's Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation for equipment purchases during fiscal year 2026. This new appropriation, designated as "Equipment - Surplus" under Fund 0450, directly supports correctional facilities by providing resources for equipment needs without increasing overall state spending. The bill uses existing surplus funds identified in the Governor's Executive Budget Document, specifically reallocating unappropriated revenue to address immediate equipment requirements for correctional units. It does not create new policies or change eligibility but adjusts budget allocations for operational support.
HB 5510 removes a requirement that private wedding venues in West Virginia must own or lease at least two acres of land in a rural area to operate. This change directly affects private wedding venues, particularly those in rural locations that previously faced this land-use barrier. The bill amends West Virginia Code §60-7-2 (relating to private club licenses) to eliminate the two-acre minimum, simplifying licensing for these venues. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing through legislative committees.
The Future Ready Education Act allows West Virginia school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational technology with a technology licensing component, provided they document fiscal savings and include a 30-day cancellation clause. It extends the Mountain State Digital Project to cover grades 9-12 and adds tutoring in reading, math, science, and career-technical education. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers must complete training in the science of reading, with public charter school educators permitted to voluntarily participate. The bill directly affects school districts, K-5 teachers, and students in public schools across West Virginia.
SB 927 clarifies that West Virginia's Commissioner of Agriculture has exclusive authority to regulate bees, bee equipment, and apiaries statewide, removing potential conflicts with local governments. The bill defines key terms like "apiary" (a location where bees are kept), "bee equipment" (hives, tools, etc.), and "honey bee pests" (diseases like Varroa mite) to create a uniform regulatory framework. It directly affects beekeepers, agricultural operations relying on pollination, and landowners with apiaries by standardizing rules for inspections, disease control, and equipment management. The bill aims to strengthen pollinator protection and support beekeeping's economic role in agriculture through clear, statewide rules.
This bill expands the definition of "targeted facility" in West Virginia's unmanned aircraft regulations to include jails, state correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, and federal correctional facilities. By amending the state code, the legislation ensures these correctional facilities are treated as critical infrastructure for the purposes of drone use and security. The change directly affects law enforcement agencies, correctional facility operators, and drone pilots who must now comply with additional security protocols at these locations. This amendment aligns correctional facilities with other critical infrastructure sites under existing state drone laws.
HB 5537 repeals four outdated sections of West Virginia's Education Code: §18-2E-5 and §18-2E-12 (related to education performance audits and digital literacy projects), §18-2I-1 (professional development for educators), and §18-8-6 (High School Graduation Improvement Act). The bill directly affects the state's education code by removing obsolete provisions that no longer apply. This is a procedural update to streamline the code, with no new policies or funding changes. The bill passed the House on March 3, 2026, and is now in the Senate for review.
HB 5398 modifies West Virginia's oil and gas well plugging funding mechanism to enable access to federal matching funds. It requires that if the state's well-plugging fund holds less than $6 million in unencumbered funds by September 30 each year, the state can receive federal money to plug abandoned oil and gas wells. The bill amends tax provisions related to oil and gas production but focuses on the fund's balance threshold as the key trigger for federal funding eligibility. This directly affects the state's oil and gas well plugging program and its ability to secure federal resources for abandoned well remediation.
HB 5453 modifies West Virginia's school funding formula, shifting to a block grant of $6,100 per student for county school districts starting in 2029-2030 (with a minimum 1,200-student threshold per county), while public charter schools receive $8,600 per student. It creates a "Supplemental School Aid Fund" to provide additional per-pupil funding for Tier II ($3,050) and Tier III special needs students beginning in 2029-2030. School districts may also request supplemental funding for specific needs like transportation, vocational centers, or pilot programs through this fund. The bill requires annual oversight reports by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and defines "maladministration" as financial mismanagement that could trigger funding restrictions.
HB 4198, the E-Verify Requirement Act, requires all employers in West Virginia - including businesses, government entities, and public agencies - to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm employees' work authorization. It replaces criminal penalties with fines for knowingly employing unauthorized workers ($100-$10,000 per violation depending on offense count) and allows license suspension or revocation for repeat violations. The bill also creates a "safe harbor" for employers who use E-Verify, shielding them from penalties for failure to verify status. It repeals a provision denying business expense deductions for non-compliance but maintains financial penalties and licensing consequences for violations.
SB 182 allows West Virginia municipalities to expand their boundaries through minor boundary adjustments under specific limits. It restricts such annexations to no more than 105% of a municipality's existing boundary or 120% of its current area, and limits municipalities to one such adjustment every two years. The bill requires municipalities to obtain consent from affected businesses and residents (with a 90-day deadline for affidavits), provide detailed service plans for public services like waste collection and emergency response, and submit maps and financial impact statements. This directly affects municipalities seeking small expansions and property owners in the annexed areas.
