This bill would allow public schools and charter schools in West Virginia to refuse enrollment to students who are unlawfully present in the United States, provided the student or their parent has exhausted all available legal appeals. The legislation requires schools to verify a student's immigration status through documentation before enrollment, accepting only U.S. citizenship, citizenship applications, or legal visa status as valid proof. By adding a new section to state law, the bill creates an eligibility standard for public school enrollment that differs from current federal precedent, permitting schools to deny access to students with final removal orders without charging tuition.
SB 775 prohibits all West Virginia state government entities - including public schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and social services offices - from promoting or facilitating discussions, policies, programs, or medical procedures related to sexual orientation or gender transitioning. It bans the use of state funds for gender transition treatments (such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy), referrals for such care, and materials promoting these topics in state-funded institutions. Enforcement includes potential termination for employees, funding suspension for violating entities, and allowing West Virginia residents to sue for violations. The bill directly affects state-funded education, healthcare, and social services by restricting content and funding related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
HB 5090 would eliminate all vaccine requirements for school children in West Virginia by amending state law to prohibit schools from mandating vaccinations as a condition for enrollment. The bill removes current requirements that students must be immunized against specific diseases like measles, polio, and chickenpox to attend school. This change would directly affect all public, private, and parochial schools in the state and their enrolled students. The legislation does not address vaccine safety or public health measures, only the enrollment requirement.
SB 964 creates a "Safe Library Books for Kids Committee" within West Virginia's Department of Tourism. The committee, appointed by the Governor, must review all children's and teen books in public libraries to establish age-appropriate ratings. It will start with youngest readers' books and move up, requiring libraries to place books only in sections matching their rating - unrated books cannot be in children's or teen sections. Violating this rule carries a $500 misdemeanor fine per occurrence. The bill directly affects public libraries and their children's/teen book collections.
HB 5194 prohibits the use of calculators and math computational devices (like graphing calculators or digital math tools) in all K-8 public and charter school classrooms across West Virginia. The bill directly affects students in kindergarten through eighth grade and their teachers, requiring classrooms to operate without these devices for math instruction. Key provisions explicitly ban such devices in all public school settings, removing their use from math lessons for this age group. The law aims to ensure students develop foundational math skills without technological assistance during early education.
HB 5362 would amend West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program by establishing income limits for eligibility, requiring scholarship recipients to use public school testing resources, and restricting scholarship use to in-state schools. The bill would require the Board of Education to create rules for reimbursing counties when public schools provide services to scholarship students. It directly affects families applying for Hope Scholarships for their children attending public or private schools in West Virginia. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced on February 9, 2026, and referred to the House Education committee.
SB 988 requires West Virginia county school boards to submit annual staffing plans by May 1, detailing all covered employees (including teachers and support staff) by category, justification, and budget impact. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will then issue annual staffing recommendations and maximum funded allowances by April 1, based on enrollment, special education needs, and other objective criteria. County boards can request exceptions to these limits by submitting a written justification and funding plan, but must receive WVDE approval to hire above recommended levels. If a county exceeds the limit without approval, WVDE can order corrective actions like eliminating unfunded positions or suspending hiring until compliance is restored.
HB 5338, the Health Freedom for Teachers and Students Act, prohibits West Virginia public schools from requiring teachers, staff, or students to receive immunizations or medical treatments as a condition of employment or enrollment. The bill also bans school employees from coercing or intimidating others into receiving such treatments. It amends state law to establish these protections immediately upon passage, directly affecting all public school employees and students in West Virginia. The legislation removes mandatory vaccination or medical treatment requirements that previously applied to school settings.
SB 962 requires all West Virginia high school students (public, private, parochial, and denominational) to pass a civics examination, the U.S. Naturalization Exam, and tests on the West Virginia Constitution as a graduation prerequisite. The bill mandates that required courses include instruction on American government structure, historical ideologies (including critical analysis of communism and socialism), and primary source materials. Students must demonstrate factual knowledge of U.S. history, government, and the dangers of historical socialist/communist systems through cumulative assessments. The law also requires schools to provide voter registration opportunities for eligible students. This affects every high school student in West Virginia seeking graduation.
HB 5106 allows the Cabell County Board of Education to provide funds from its special and excess levies to the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District. This would give the park district an additional funding source for maintaining parks and recreational facilities, using money currently collected for educational purposes. The park district must submit a written request for these funds, and the school board would then decide whether to transfer them. The bill does not require the school board to provide funds, only authorizes the option.
