These Legislative Updates are compiled by Mike Wilson, Legislative Liaison, West Virginia Christian Education Association.

A couple of points to notice: Today is day 24 of the 60-day 2026 legislative session. This list will grow for a few weeks as new bills are introduced. I track bills that might involve our schools as well as some bills that deal with Christian and family issues. The list will be updated weekly to include new bills and to list changes to the current ones. Bills originating in the House of Delegates are designated by the prefix HB, Senate bills by SB. (*) Indicates additional commentsof the WVCEA Legislative Liaison. As of today, the House has introduced 1,318 bills and 822have been introduced in the Senate.

Christian Education Bills:

HB 4065 (Crouse) - The purpose of this bill relates generally to the composition of the Hope Scholarship Board. * This bill changes the voting status of three elected officials from voting to non-voting. On House Education Choice Subcommittee agenda, 2/5/26 with Wilson in attendance. Voted to full House Education Committee for discussion and mark-up. *Part of the discussion in committee mark-up might include adding an additional voting member.

HB 4073 (Crouse) - The purpose of this bill is to permit a religious exemption to compulsoryschool immunizations. Referred to House Health and Human Resources then House JudiciaryCommittee, 1/14/26. * Similar to HB 4947.

HB 4077 (Crouse) - The purpose of this bill is to eliminate standardized testing requirements in West Virginia public and private schools. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/14/26.

HB 4189 (Hornbuckle) - The purpose of this bill is to help preserve Hope Scholarship funding resources by placing family income eligibility limitations for Hope scholarships, and providing the county schools be reimbursed for services provided to Hope scholarship recipients. Referred to House Education then House Finance Committee, 1/14/26. *At present, this bill should be of concern to all Christian educators during the 2026 legislative session.
Similar to HB 4961.

HB 4372 (Smith) - The purpose of this bill is to authorize teachers in elementary or secondary schools to carry concealed firearms and be designated as a school protection officer (SPO). Referred to House Education then Judiciary Committee, 1/15/26.HB 4402 (Foggin) - The purpose of this bill is to authorize the appointment, qualifications,certification, authority, compensation, and training of school protection officers by a sheriff, and to provide for limitations on the civil liability of school protection officers in certain circumstances. Referred to House Education then House Judiciary Committee, 1/16/26.

HB 4425 (Gearheart) - The purpose of this bill is to authorize the appointment, qualifications, certification, authority, compensation, and training of school protection officers by a sheriff, and to provide for limitations on the civil liability of school protection officers in certain circumstances. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/16/26.

HB 4593 (Hornby) - Allow for PE classes to be optional for students who can demonstrate 5 or more weekly hours of outside physical activity. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/20/26. *Similar to SB 804 (Grady).

HB 4611 (Dillon) - The purpose of this bill is to provide for the creation of the Hope to Help Community Schools Act of 2026. Referred to House Education then House Finance Committee,1/20/26. *Essentially, small public schools could use Hope Scholarship funding to hire teachers to form a microschool. The WVCEA is opposed to this bill as this was not the intended use of Hope funding.

HB 4645 (Brooks) - All property, real and personal, owned and used by a day care facility, shall be assessed at full value, and the tax imposed on the property shall be reduced by 50 percent. Referred to House Finance Committee, 1/21/26.

HB 4697 (Holstein) - The purpose of this bill is to is to require that any student in the 11th or 12th grade, who has been placed in a "free" or "teacher-assistant"; period or class, be informed of online college course opportunities available for them. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/21/26.

HB 4794 (Pinson) - The purpose of this bill is to require each high school student to pass a test on the United States Constitution as a requirement to graduation from high school. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/23/26.

HB 4798 (Pinson) - The purpose of this bill is to implement a wearable panic alert system, to be known as Alyssa's law, in all schools in the state. Referred to House Education then House Finance Committee, 1/23/26.

HB 4905 (Pritt) - Removing fees teachers have to pay in order to obtain any teaching license, certification, or additional continuing education credit hours (reporting fee) to the state Board of Education. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/29/27.

HB 4914 (Anders) - The purpose of this article is to ensure that if the federal government, under the leadership of the President, returns education funding to the State of West Virginia in the form of block grants, those funds shall be deposited into education savings accounts (ESAs) that follow each child. These accounts shall empower parents with full and complete school choice, regardless of income, zip code, or educational background, an shall remove all central control over education from unaccountable bureaucracies. Referred to House Education Committee then House Finance Committee, 1/29/26.

HB 4945 (Pritt) - There shall be no use of individual electronic devices such as laptops, computers, tablets, etc. for learning and testing in classrooms for students in grade three and below excluding calculators. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/29/26.

HB 4956 (Vance) - The purpose of this bill is to establish that the educational instructional term for students shall begin no earlier than the Tuesday after Labor Day and conclude no later than the Friday before Memorial Day. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/29/26.

HB 4957 (Vance) - The purpose of this bill is to set the school calendar to 160 days of instruction. Referred to House Education Committee, 1/29/26.

HB 4961 (Young) - To be eligible for the Hope Scholarship, a parent or parents combined federal adjusted gross income shall be less than $150,000 for the taxable year in which the parent or parents apply to participate in the Hope Scholarship program. Referred to House Finance Committee, 1/29/26. *This is a bill for all Christian education supporters to be aware of. Similar to HB 4189.

HB 5115 (Young) – This bill says in part: Beginning July 1, 2026, the state board shall implement trauma-informed practices in schools in this state from kindergarten through grade 12. (b) The state board shall provide training for all teachers, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and specialized instructional support personnel on trauma-informed practices. (c) "Trauma-informed practices"; means: (1) Evidence-based professional development that promotes a shared understanding among teachers, teachers’ assistants,  school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel and other staff that: (A) Traumatic experiences are common among students; (B) Trauma can impact student learning, behavior and relationships in school; (C) Traumatic experiences do not inherently undermine the capabilities of students to reach high expectations in academics and life; (D) School-wide learning environments where all students and adults feel safe, welcomed, and supported can enable students to succeed despite traumatic experiences; and (E) Services, support, and programs provided to meet individual student needs shouldbe trauma-informed, where appropriate, and increase student connection to the school-wide learning environment; (2) Adoption of disciplinary procedures and practices that: (A)Accompany disciplinary actions with holistic assessments and positive behavioral interventions and support to address the underlying causes of student behavior, including trauma; (B) Avoid harsh and punitive, exclusionary disciplinary practices; (C) Utilize evidence-based restorative practices that build a culture of trust; and (D) Do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, English proficiency status, migrant status, or age, consistent with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. §6101 et seq.), title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of1972 (20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. §794), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (42 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.); (3) Activities that engage teachers, teachers’ assistants, school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff in a process of school-based planning to: (A) Promote a school-wide culture of acceptance; (B) Help all students feel safe and connected to the school community; (C) Support all students to form positive relationships with adults and peers, understand and manage emotions, achieve success academically and in extra-curricular areas, and experience physical and psychological health and well-being; (D) Promote teamwork and effective communication among all staff and shared responsibility for every student; (E) Integrate evidence-based practices that build social- emotional skills into rigorous academic instruction; and (F) Recognize and prevent adult implicit bias. Referred to the House Education then House Finance Committee, 2/3/26. *This bill contains multiple provisions that could be contrary to several Christian school’s doctrinal statements.

HB 5124 (Young) - The purpose of this bill generally relates to the eligibility of nonpublic schools and education service providers to participate in the Hope Scholarship Program. The bill requires submitting annual proof of continued accreditation to the Hope Scholarship Board and submitting annually any information related to tuition, school policies, enrollment, and any other requested data to the Hope Scholarship Board. Referred to House Education Committee, 2/3/26.

HB 5148 (Young) – Student Bill of Rights. Referred to House Education Committee, 2/3/26.*This bill contains multiple provisions that could be contrary to several Christian school’sdoctrinal statements.

HB 5249 (Hornbuckle) - The purpose of this bill is to prevent the use of state funds to pay costs for attending out-of-state private schools or receiving other services from an out-of- state provider. Referred to House Education Committee, 2/5/26. *This bill has been introducedt he last couple of years. Has previously failed to gain committee passage.

SB 46 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to provide for a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. The bill prevents teachers from being able to discuss the substance of what children engage in during the moment of silence. Finally, the bill provides that the Attorney General shall enforce the provisions of this section. Referred to Senate Education Committee then Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/14/26.

SB 69 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to require higher education institutions to accept the Classic Learning Test. Referred to Senate Education Committee, 1/14/26.

SB 133 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to allow any teaching experience requirement imposed by code or state board rule to be met through teaching at a public school or any nonpublic school. Referred to Senate Education Committee, 1/14/26.

SB 176 (Fuller) - The purpose of this bill is to clarify the amount of non-traditional instruction days for teachers. On Senate Education Committee agenda, 2/3/26, recommended to the full Senate with the recommendation do pass. *Increases non-traditional instructional days.

SB 216 (Hart) – *Basically, eliminates all government oversight over private schools (reporting requirements, testing, etc.). Passed out of Senate School Choice Committee to full Senate with a do pass recommendation, 1/28/26.

SB 388 (Grady) - The purpose of this bill is to require that a public elementary or secondary school make the Aitken Bible available to all fourth grade, eighth grade, and 10th grade social studies classrooms; specifying funds that can and cannot be used for this purpose; and clarify that the requirement applies to charter schools. Passed the Senate, 30-4, 1/29/26.

SB 489 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to create a course-specific teaching permit system allowing certified educators to teach high-quality academic or career-technical courses outside their formal endorsement areas once they complete approved professional learning tied to that course. Referred to Senate Education then Senate Finance Committee, 1/19/26.

SB 644 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to require the State Treasurer to participate in the federal tax credit scholarship program; and to identify qualified scholarship organizations and schools. Referred to Senate School Choice Committee, 1/28/26.

SB 683 (Roberts) - The purpose of this bill is to remove the requirement that a kindergarten, preschool, or school education program operated by a private, parochial, orchurch school be recognized by West Virginia Department of Education Policy 2330 in order to be exempt from the section of code imposing certain childcare related licensure, approval, certification, and registration requirements. Passed out of Senate School Choice Committee (Wilson in attendance) with the recommendation due pass after going through Senate Finance Committee, 2/4/26.

SB 803 (Grady) - The purpose of this bill is to require demonstration of competency of any nonpublic school, home school, microschool, learning pod, or individualized instruction plan student upon enrollment in a public school before the public school can transcribe grades onto a public school transcript. Referred to Senate School Choice Committee, 2/6/26. *The WVCEA is not in favor of this bill.

Other Conservative Christian Issues:

HB 4017 (Hanshaw) - The purpose of this bill is to provide the Secretary of the Department of Human Services with the authority to enter into contracts and partnerships with child welfare providers, including faith-based organizations, to carry out the statutoryn responsibilities imposed upon the Department of Human Services under Chapter 49. Referred to House Committee on Health and Himan Resources, 1/14/26.

HB 4034 (Mallow) - The purpose of this bill is to require public elementary schools and secondary schools to display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that meets certain requirements. Referred to House Education then House Judiciary Committee, 1/14/26. *Same as HB 4103.

HB 4356 (Burkhammer) - The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the requiring of the performance or assistance of an irreversible gender reassignment surgery. Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Resources, 1/15/26.

HB 4412 (Chirarelli) - The purpose of this bill is to create liability for publishers and distributors of sexual material harmful to minors, to provide definitions, to create a cause of action, and to provide for the administration, applicability, exceptions, and penalties for violation of the article. Referred to House Judiciary Committee, 1/16/26. Mark-up discussion 1/27/26. On House Judiciary Committee Agenda, 2/6/26.

HB 4680 (Anders) - The purpose of this bill is to ensure that protections are in place to protect religious services during a declared state of emergency by the Governor or other declarations by the executive branch that would impose restrictions upon such houses of worship. Referred to House Judiciary Committee, 1/21/26.

HB 5204 (Lewis) - The purpose of this bill is to ensure that when a child moves to this stateand the parents or guardians intend to home school, that a student education and wellness assurance visit to the residence be conducted to verify that the child is not being abused or neglected. Referred to House Committee on Education, 2/5/26.

SB 43 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to remove exceptions for rape and incest for the current abortion law in West Virginia. Referred to Senate Health and Human ResourcesCommittee, 1/14/26.

SB 173 (Rose) – Prohibiting abortifacients. Reported out of Senate Health and Human Resources Committee with committee substitute. On Senate Judiciary Committee agenda, 2/6/26.

SB 498 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the distribution and display of pornographic material to minors through online platforms, to establish strict age verification protocols, and to impose severe penalties on entities that fail to comply.Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/19/26.

SB 507 (Helton) - The purpose of this bill is to extend the statute of limitations for bringing actions for gender reassignment surgeries, provide for additional damages in actions filed against surgeons for medical injuries from gender reassignment surgeries and the prescribing of medications related to gender reassignment procedures and therapies. Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/19/26.

SB 533 (Morris) - The purpose of this bill is to relates to disaffiliation from religious denominations and generally relates to property of religious organizations; requires a two- thirds vote of the membership for disaffiliation; establishes classes of property for purposes of disaffiliation; treats each separately deeded parcel of real property as a distinct unit for Class A purposes; provides that a local religious organization that disaffiliates from a parent religious denomination or conference may retain ownership of each parcel of real property (Class A) if more than 50 percent of the costs for acquiring and improving that specific parcel were raised locally by or from the organization, subject to reimbursement of investments made by the parent religious denomination or conference; provides for ownership of chattel and personal property (Class B) based on the purchaser; provides for pro rata ownership of intangible property (Class C) based on sources of funds over a two- year lookback period; provides a catch-all provision for classification of property by a court, mediator, or arbitrator; establishes a burden of proof on the parent religious denomination or conference; requires the parent religious denomination or conference to provide accounting within a specified timeline; and provides for severability and application to affiliations entered into or reaffirmed on or after the effective date. Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/20/26. *Similar to SB 561 (Azinger).

SB 567 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to prohibit a county board or charter school governing board from charging any fees to a Hope Scholarship student for any extracurricular program related services; and modify the academic achievement requirement for Hope Scholarship students choosing an individualized instructional program and choosing to be assessed through a review of the student’s academic work. Referred to Senate Select Committee on School Choice, 1/21/26.

 SB 591 (Azinger) - Prohibiting teaching of divisive acts and critical race theory in public schools. Referred to Senate Education Committee, 1/23/26. SB 599 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the abortifacients and to enact criminal penalties and permit private causes of action for supplying abortifacients and also requiring informed consent. Referred to Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources the Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/23/26.

 SB 605 (Rucker) - For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, a parent or legal guardian who is a resident of West Virginia is entitled to receive a tax credit against his or her personal income tax liability, otherwise due under this article, in an amount equivalent to what a student who is eligible for the HOPE Scholarship would receive, for providing one year of home schooling or private schooling for one or more children pursuant to the educational requirements set by the State Board of Education for primary and secondary programs and standards. The tax credit is limited to the equivalent amount of a student who is eligible for the HOPE Scholarship in grade kindergarten through grade twelve. Referred to Senate School Choice Committee then Senate Finance Committee, 1/27/26.

SB 608 (Rucker) - The purpose of this bill is to establish religious exemption from compulsory immunization for children. Referred to Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources, 1/27/26. *Similar to House bill mentioned above.

SB 628 (Azinger) - The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the distribution of pornographic materials to persons under 18. Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/27/26.

SB 629 (Azinger) - The purpose of this bill is to prohibit gender transition surgeries, treatments, and therapies to minors. The bill establishes penalties for practitioners in violation of regulations. The bill safeguards the mental and physical health of minors. The bill prohibits political subdivisions from enacting conflicting policies. The bill creates whistleblower protection. Finally, the bill prohibits taxpayer subsidization of gender transition treatments. Referred to Senate Health and Human Resources Committee then Senate Judiciary, 1/27/26.

SB 630 (Azinger) - The purpose of this bill is to protect minors from indecent displays of a sexually explicit nature, including but not limited to, transvestite and/or transgender performances or displays to minors. Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/27/26.

SB 634 (Garcia) – Legalizing the consumption of cannabis for adults. Referred to Senate Judiciary then Senate Finance Committee, 1/27/26.

SB 737 (Azinger) The purpose of this bill is to authorize county boards of education to employ or accepting as volunteers certified chaplains. The bill also provides for limitation of liability. Referred to Senate Education Committee then Senate Judiciary Committee, 2/4/26.

SB 805 (Helton) - The purpose of this bill is to add the abortion pill reversal as covered expense. Referred to Senate Health and Human Resources Committee then Senate Finance Committee, 2/6/26.