Education (Higher Education)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5111: To prohibit public colleges and universities in this state from requiring vaccines for admission.

HB 5111 prohibits all public and private higher education institutions in West Virginia from requiring vaccines as a condition for student enrollment, faculty or staff employment, or participation in campus activities. The bill bans institutions from offering rewards for vaccinations and requires that any free vaccines provided on campus must include informed consent. It also ensures students, faculty, and staff cannot be denied access to educational programs or jobs solely due to declining vaccination. The law applies immediately upon passage and does not prevent institutions from offering free vaccines with consent.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits vaccine mandates that could deny enrollment/access, expanding educational access for students/faculty by removing a barrier to participation in higher education programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5354: 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(Medical Student Loan Program) to require U.S. citizenship or legal immigrant status for eligibility and repeals two outdated rules related to purchasing efficiencies and a research trust fund program.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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMaintains existing higher education scholarships (Underwood-Smith, PROMISE) and formalizes current funding mechanisms without cuts or restrictions.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationAmends Medical Student Loan Program to require U.S. citizenship/legal status, restricting immigrant access to state program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers Citizenship & Naturalization

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5606: Establishing the “Stay in State” tax credit

HB 5606 establishes a tax credit for West Virginia residents who remain in-state after graduating from a West Virginia college or university. The credit allows individuals or their employers to reduce their personal income tax liability by up to 50-75% of eligible student loan payments made while working in West Virginia (based on degree level and transfer status). It covers loans included in the graduate's original financial aid package, requires payments to be made during residency, and permits unused credits to carry forward for up to 10 years. This policy directly affects recent WV graduates and their employers, aiming to incentivize retention in the state through tax relief on student debt.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit reducing income tax liability for graduates staying in-state, aligning with tax relief support for education retention.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTax credit reduces student loan burden for in-state graduates, supporting higher education retention and access through financial incentives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Tax Incentives Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5110: Amend section providing for waiver of tuition and fees for senior citizens auditing certain college classes

HB 5110 lowers the age requirement for tuition waivers at West Virginia colleges from 65 to 60 years old for residents or metro area students. It creates two program options: auditors (no credit) pay up to $50 per course (excluding labs/parking), while credit-seeking students pay 50% of resident tuition. The bill requires colleges to prioritize applicants, confirm classroom space availability, and apply the same fee rules to all students. It directly affects West Virginia seniors aged 60+ seeking non-credit or credit courses at public institutions. The amendment updates existing law to expand access to affordable education for older adults.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for seniors by lowering tuition waiver age from 65 to 60 and creating structured fee options for auditors/credit students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Tags Seniors

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5420: Require the teaching of classical informal logic in public middle schools and implmenting rquirements for teachers to teach logic courses

HB 5420 requires West Virginia public schools to implement a "Logic for Living" curriculum for students in grades 7-10, focusing on practical reasoning skills like identifying logical fallacies, constructing sound arguments, and evaluating evidence. It directly affects public schools, teachers, and students by mandating a dedicated semester-long logic course starting in the 2028-2029 school year, with phased county implementation. Key mechanisms include developing interdisciplinary materials (integrating logic into subjects like science and social studies), involving the West Virginia University Washington Center for curriculum design and teacher training, and requiring new teacher endorsements for logic instruction. The bill emphasizes informal logic - such as recognizing flawed arguments (e.g., ad hominem or false dilemmas) - rather than formal logic, aiming to strengthen critical thinking for college, careers, and civic engagement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new required logic curriculum for grades 7-10, directly strengthening K-12 educational content by focusing on critical reasoning skills like fallacy identification.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Teachers

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5607: Expanding the amount of promise scholarship funds awarded to persons majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

HB 5607 would amend West Virginia's PROMISE Scholarship Program to cover full tuition, room, and board for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at state institutions of higher education, replacing the current $4,750 annual cap for these students. This change applies to new recipients and continues existing awards for STEM students who received the scholarship before January 1, 2010. The bill does not alter other eligibility requirements, such as maintaining a 3.0 grade point average or applying for federal student aid. The policy directly increases financial support for eligible STEM students at West Virginia's public colleges and universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases funding for higher education STEM students by removing tuition cap and expanding scholarship coverage to full tuition, room, and board.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands scholarship funding for STEM students, directly advancing technology workforce development through education investment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5244: To institute the Learn and Earn program for four-year schools.

HB 5244 creates a two-year pilot program allowing West Virginia's four-year state colleges and universities (excluding the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine) to participate in the existing "Learn and Earn" workforce development initiative. The bill directs the state education chancellor to implement this pilot starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, with funding kept separate from the program's community college funding. It specifies that any unspent funds at year-end carry forward, and administrative costs cannot exceed 5% of annual program funds. This bill directly affects public four-year institutions by expanding their access to a work-study program designed to connect education with workforce training.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new pilot program for higher education workforce development, expanding access to workforce training through state colleges with dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5212: Relating to financial aid for post-secondary education.

HB 5212 revises West Virginia's higher education financial aid programs to improve access and align with workforce development goals. It allows part-time enrollment for the higher education grant, combines the adult part-time grant into a new workforce-focused program, and updates medical/health sciences loan repayment programs to require direct payments to federal loan providers. The bill also adjusts eligibility for the PROMISE scholarship and WV Invests grant programs. These changes aim to better connect financial aid with employer needs as outlined in the bill's legislative findings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRevises higher education financial aid to improve access, align with workforce goals, and adjust grant programs for better student support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill updates medical/health sciences loan repayment programs to require direct payments to federal providers, supporting healthcare workforce development by easing repayment for medical professionals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 21, 2026

HB 5682: Supplemental Appropriation to expire funds to surplus balance of General Revenue

HB 5682 redirects $72 million in unused funds from previous fiscal years to support biomedical research at West Virginia medical schools. It expires $37 million from the 2023 Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund and $35 million from the 2017 fund, adding these to the General Revenue surplus for the 2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to: $30 million for Marshall University School of Medicine, $5 million for West Virginia University Dental School, $32 million for West Virginia University School of Medicine, and $5 million for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. This supplemental appropriation expands biomedical research capacity without creating new taxes or spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $72M in unspent funds to biomedical research, promoting fiscal responsibility by utilizing surplus without new taxes or spending cuts.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $72M to medical schools for biomedical research, directly funding higher education institutions as part of education topic.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRedirects $72M to biomedical research at WV medical schools, directly funding healthcare infrastructure and research per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Higher Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5245: Creating the Governor’s Cup competition

HB 5245 creates the "Governor's Cup Challenge," a yearly athletic competition between Marshall University and West Virginia University in NCAA Division I sports. The winning school earns points based on game outcomes, with the annual champion receiving 65% of scholarship funds generated from 20% of game-related revenue (tickets, merchandise, concessions). These funds support scholarships for West Virginia high school athletes who participated in sports but did not receive athletic scholarships to in-state colleges and are now pursuing degrees at those institutions. The program is administered by the university system's vice chancellor for administration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds K-12 scholarships for athletes via sports revenue, directly supporting educational access for students excluded from athletic scholarships.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

Track