WVCEA Legislative Update 3-6-2026
Only minor changes to Hope
These Legislative Updates are compiled by Mike Wilson, Legislative Liaison, West Virginia Christian Education Association.
A couple of points to notice: Today is day 52 of the 60-day 2026 legislative session. I track bills that might involve our schools as well as some bills that deal with Christian and family issues. Bills originating in the House of Delegates are designated by the prefix HB, Senate bills by SB. The last day to introduce most bills in the House was February 17. The last day for bill introduction in the Senate was February 23. March 4 was cross-over day in which most bills must be out of committee in their house of origin to be considered. As such, you will notice our list shrunk considerably since last week as many bills are likely dead. (*)Indicates additional comments of the WVCEA Legislative Liaison. As of today, the House has introduced 1,688 bills and 1,084 have been introduced in the Senate. The 2026 Regular Legislative Session ends at midnight, Saturday, March 14.
As you notice directly below, the HOPE bill now has a bill number (HB 5686). You will also notice that it is out of sequence due to the fact that it has everyone’s attention; therefore, its first on the list. Once again, I want to thank everyone who played a part in the success of fighting the limitations of the original bill. It truly was a team victory!
Christian Education Bills:
HB 5686 (House Finance Committee) – HOPE Scholarship Bill. The original bill would have included, freezing the scholarship amount, restrict extra-curricular expenditures, limited technology purchases, and banned out of state payments among other items. After several days of pulling the bill off the Finance Committee agenda, a revised version of the bill was brought up for mark-up and discussion in committee on 2/26/26. The only change from the original HOPE legislation is the payout schedule, changing HOPE payments from bi-annually to quarterly. This allows Hope payments to be spread out over the fiscal year and as a result helps WVCEA schools’ cash flow. Passed the House, 91-1, 3/4/26. Ordered to the Senate.
HB 4425 (Gearheart) - The purpose of this bill is to repeal the section of code allowing for the athletic eligibility of transfer students. Passed the House, 78-19, 3/3/26. Ordered to the Senate.
HB 4588 (Burkhammer) – 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. Passed the House, 93-0, 3/4/26. Ordered to the Senate. *Similar to SB 644 (Rucker). WVCEA supports this legislation.
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. Passed the House, 96-0 on 2/25/26. Scheduled for 2nd Reading in the Senate, 3/6/26.
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. Passed the Senate, 32-0, 3/2/26. Referred to House Education Committee. *Similar to HB 4588. WVCEA supports this legislation.
SB 890 (Roberts) - The purpose of this bill is to change the minimum public school 180 instructional day requirement into a minimum 900 instructional hour requirement; change the minimum public school employment term from 200 days to 1,600 hours; convert other public school calendar provisions from days or months to hours; increase the time to be designated by the county board to be used by the employees for preparation for opening school; and allow nonpublic schools to deliver instruction through alternative methods that count toward up to 25 hours of instructional time when schools are closed due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstance. Passed the Senate, 23-5, 2/21/26, ordered to the House. On House Education Committee agenda, 3/3/26 for mark-up.
SB 1020 (Oliverio) – The purpose of this bill is to include up to five educational leave days within the definition of excuses absence for school attendance purposes. Passed the Senate, 34-0, 2/26/26. Ordered to the House, referred to House Education Committee.
Other Conservative Christian Issues:
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. Passed the House, 94-0, 2/12/26. Scheduled for 1st Reading in the Senate, 3/6/26.
SB 173 (Rose) – Prohibiting abortifacients. Passed the Senate 31-1 on 2/13/26. Referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
SB 804 (Grady) - The purpose of this bill is to provide that students participating in good standing in an extracurricular sport are not required to comply with the statutory middle school and high school physical education requirements. *Similar to HB 4593 (Hornby). Passed the Senate, 33-0, communicated to the House, 2/16/26. On House Education Committee agenda, 3/6/26.
SB 805 (Helton) - The purpose of this bill is to add the abortion pill reversal as covered expense. Passed the Senate, 31-1, 3/4/26. Ordered to the House
SB 1026 (Willis) – Increasing criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship. Passed the Senate, 34-0, 3/3/26. Ordered to the House
Mike Wilson
Mr. Mike Wilson, the WVCEA Legislative Liason, has a rich educational, governmental, and experiential background that he brings to his role with WVCEA. Mike monitors legislation in Charleston and works to preserve freedoms for our Christian schools, churches, and families
