Saturday, April 4, 2026
Saturday, April 4, 2026
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Senate Education Discusses Teacher Pay Raise

Jaidyn Carter
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Senate Education Discusses Teacher Pay Raise

The Senate Education Committee met this morning to advance several bills addressing teachers’ compensation, employment classification, and benefits within county boards of education.

Senate Bill 516 would raise the state minimum salary for teachers with a bachelor’s degree or above to $50,000 beginning in school year 2026-2027.

Each teacher with a bachelor’s degree or above would be granted an additional $2,000 annual salary increase, and a minimum salary increase of $1,200 for teachers providing math instruction and special education services.

The overall anticipated cost is estimated at $70 million should the bill pass.

Following a discussion, the chair of the Committee, Amy N. Grady (R – Mason, 04), decided not to take action on the bill today.

Senate Bill 155 would let those with adjunct teaching permits fill open teaching jobs or offer new classes if no qualified teacher is available.

This bill would require county boards to post adjunct teacher vacancies and notify parents when one is open.

The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.

Senate Bill 196 would change the minimum amount of insurance that county boards of education must have for liability to apply.

This bill would require that the county board of education obtain insurance from a company licensed to do business in the state of West Virginia.

The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being reported to the committee on Finance.

Senate Bill 11 would grant teachers the opportunity to sell up to 10 of their unused days of personal leave to the county board in exchange for monetary compensation paid on or before June 30.

This bill would apply to teachers who first became members of the Teachers Retirement System on or after July 1, 2015, and once the teachers sell their unused personal leave days, they will no longer be available to the classroom teacher.

The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being reported to the committee on Finance.

Guy Ward Sworn into House

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Guy Ward Sworn into House
This morning, Delegate Guy Ward took the oath of office. Ward was appointed to fill the vacant seat left by Mike DeVault. Clerk Jeff Pack administered the oath.
Ward, who retired from First Energy, previously served in the House of Delegates from 2020 to 2022.
He said, “He loved serving before and was happy to take on the responsibility of serving his district again.”
Ward represents District 74, which includes Marion County.
Several House colleagues joined Delegate Ward for the ceremony.

House HHR Discuss Several Bills

Soleil Woolard
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House HHR Discuss Several Bills

The House Health and Human Resources Committee discussed House Bills 4740, 4629, 4641, and 4770.

House Bill 4740 would make changes to create consistency between West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program and the State of West Virginia’s commitments to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This bill would allow the WV Rural Health Transformation Program to not have to use the Division of Purchasing and use the Department of Health to process their spending.

House Bill 4629 would allow higher education institutions to give people who are 18 to 21 tobacco products if they are conducting a scientific study or research. This only applies to research that is medical and furthering efforts for prevention and tobacco regulation.

House Bill 4641 would organize the guidelines for nutritionally adequate school breakfasts and lunches to follow standards set by new federal guidelines, as well as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

House Bill 4770 would create limitations on the use of AI technology to deliver mental health care except for administrative functions.

House Judiciary Advances HB 4137 to the Floor

Soleil Woolard
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House Judiciary Advances HB 4137 to the Floor

The House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees met this morning to discuss several bills; House Bill 4137 was advanced to the floor.

Judiciary

House Bill 4137 would update existing code about the West Virginia Law Institute. The institute was established to provide support services to the legislature, as well as the West Virginia University College of Law. These updates address issues with membership based on congressional districts, how vacancies are filled, and would exempt the Institute from open meeting laws.

House Bill 4456 would grant additional local and state law enforcement privileges to law enforcement officers of the National Park Service. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Legal Services

House Bill 4478 would create immunity for lawfully established facilities or areas used for competitive vehicle or motorsport racing from certain liability. The bill was tabled.

House Bill 4546 would allow any LLC and limited partnership to file a biennial report with the Secretary of State rather than an annual report. This bill was advanced to the markup and discussion phase.

Homeland Security

House Bill 4552 would clarify what correctional officers of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation are able to do in their facilities. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Courts

House Bill 4606 would allow judicial officers, when determining bail, to use residency status. In the bill, this is described as including, but not limited to, if they are a resident of the state, they have ties to the community, or if they are a flight risk. This bill was advanced to the Judiciary committee.

House Bill 4570 would allow whoever is serving the eviction notice to post it on the front door and secure and take a photograph of it to show that it was posted. This bill was advanced to markup and passage.

Senate School Choice Committee Advances Bill on Private School Regulations

Jaidyn Carter
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Senate School Choice Committee Advances Bill on Private School Regulations

The Senate School Choice Select Committee met this afternoon and advanced three bills on private schools, charter school boards, and career technical education programs.

Senate Bill 216 would implement the Restoring Private Schools Act of 2026.

This bill would exempt private schools from certain obligations imposed by current West Virginia State law and grant them the freedom to determine their own standards.

These are some of the key guidelines that would no longer be a requirement for private, parochial, or church schools:

  • Observe a minimum instructional term of 900 hours per school year.
  • Maintain accurate annual attendance and disease immunization records for each student enrolled and regularly attending classes.
  • Provide a list of names and addresses of all students enrolled between the ages of seven and 16 to the county board.
  • Child attendance must comply with the compulsory school attendance requirements.
  • National standardized achievement tests must be administered to students at the same grade levels and subject areas as required in public schools.
  • Require special education students or students with learning disabilities to be assessed by one of the following methods: standardized group achievement test, standardized individualized achievement test, written narrative of an evaluation of a portfolio of samples of a child’s work, etc.

Senator Charles H. Clements (R – Wetzel, 02) proposed a conceptual amendment that would return language in the bill requiring private, parochial, or church schools to have standardized testing or one that is nationally recognized to evaluate students, as public schools do.

The amendment was rejected.

Senator Michael A. Woelfel (D – Cabell, 05) also proposed a conceptual amendment that would return language in the bill that would continue the requirement for disease immunization records in private parochial, or church schools.

The amendment was rejected.

Following the rejection of both amendments, the bill was sent to the full Senate as is, with the recommendation of passage.

The body then discussed Senate Bill 536, which would revise the requirements for serving as an appointed voting member of the Professional Charter School Board and revise eligibility for the appointment of members.

The bill intends to require Charter School Board members to be appointed as lay members of institutional boards of governors if they meet the qualifications.

The bill was sent to the full Senate with the recommendation of passage.

Following, the committee briefly addressed Senate Bill 170, relating to career technical education programs, and sent it to the full Senate without recommendation of passage, after first reporting it to the committee on finance.

House Gov. Org. Hears 55 Rule Bills

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Gov. Org. Hears 55 Rule Bills

The Committee on Government Organization met this afternoon.

Several rule bills were on the agenda for committee hearings. These bills were advanced to markup and passage.

Department of Administration

Office of Technology

Board of Risk and Insurance Management

  • House Bill 4202 – relating to Mine Subsidence Insurance
  • House Bill 4203 – relating to Public Entities Insurance Program
  • House Bill 4204 – relating to Preferred Medical Liability and High-Risk Medical Liability Program

Department of Motor Vehicles

Department of Agriculture

  • House Bill 4265 – relating to registration forms and tags for registration, taxation, and control of dogs
  • House Bill 4266 – relating to grades and standards for apples
  • House Bill 4267 – relating to public markets
  • House Bill 4268 – relating to licensing of livestock dealers
  • House Bill 4269 – relating to Grade A pasteurized milk
  • House Bill 4270 – relating to select plant-based derivatives and select plant-based derivative products of hemp and kratom
  • House Bill 4271 – relating to agritourism
  • House Bill 4272 – relating to exempted dairy farms and milk and milk products processing

Board of Architects

State Auditor

  • House Bill 4280 – relating to standards for requisitions for payment issued by the state officers on the Auditor

Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

  • House Bill 4281 – relating to qualifications, training, examination, and certification of instructors in barbering, hair styling, nail technology, aesthetics, waxing, and cosmetology
  • House Bill 4282 – relating to operational standards for schools of barbering, cosmetology, hair styling, nail technology, and aesthetics
  • House Bill 4283 – relating to barber apprenticeship
  • House Bill 4284 – relating to waxing specialists

Contracting Licensing Board

  • House Bill 4285 – relating to the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act

Board of Examiners

  • House Bill 4286 – relating to licensing
  • House Bill 4287 – relating to licensed professional counselor license renewal and continuing professional education requirements
  • House Bill 4288 – relating to marriage and family therapist licensing

Board of Funeral Services

  • House Bill 4289 – relating to funeral directors, embalmers, apprentices, courtesy card holders, and funeral establishment requirements

Board of Landscape Architects

Board of Medicine

  • House Bill 4292 – relating to licensure, practice requirements, disciplinary and complaint procedures, and continuing education for physician assistants
  • House Bill 4293 – relating to continuing education for physicians and podiatric physicians

Medical Imaging Technologists

Board of Occupational Therapy

Board of Osteopathic Medicine

  • House Bill 4304 – relating to licensing procedures for osteopathic physicians
  • House Bill 4305 – relating to osteopathic physician assistants
  • House Bill 4306 – relating to emergency temporary permits to practice during States of Emergency or States of Preparedness

Board of Pharmacy

Board of Physical Therapy

  • House Bill 4315 – relating to general provisions for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants
  • House Bill 4316 – relating to general provisions for athletic trainers

Board of Psychologist

  • House Bill 4317 – relating to requirements for licensure as a psychologist or a school psychologist

Public Service Commission

  • House Bill 4318 – relating to the occupancy of customer-provided conduit

Real Estate Commission

  • House Bill 4319 – relating to licensing real estate brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons, and the conduct of brokerage business

Secretary of State

  • House Bill 4320 – relating to loan and grant programs under the Help America Vote Act for the purchase of voting equipment, election systems, software, services, and upgrades

Senior Services

  • House Bill 4321 – relating to the shared table initiative for senior citizens

Board of Social Work

Senate Passes Rules Bills, Legislation to Criminalize Obstruction of Social Service Workers

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Rules Bills, Legislation to Criminalize Obstruction of Social Service Workers

The Senate passed two rules bills and a bill to make it a crime to obstruct social services workers during Wednesday morning’s floor session.

Senate Bill 281 authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to establish legislative rules.

Senate Bill 309 is a rules bundle authorizing the Department of Transportation to establish legislative rules.

Senate Bill 55 would establish a new felony criminal offense for knowingly, willfully, and forcibly obstructing or hindering a home incarceration supervisor or a social services worker while they are lawfully performing their duties, if such obstruction or hindrance causes the death of that supervisor or worker.

A home incarceration supervisor is defined in the bill as someone employed to oversee individuals in a home incarceration program. A social services worker is defined as an employee of a governmental or private entity providing services like investigating abuse or neglect, working with delinquent youth, or offering mental health and educational assistance through fieldwork and home visits.

The legislation amends existing law to include these individuals alongside other protected professions like law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel. If convicted, the offender faces imprisonment in a state correctional facility for a term of 20 years to life, with a mandatory minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.

These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Also on Wednesday, Senator Woelfel (D – Cabell, 5), attempted to amend Senate Bill 388, which would require public elementary or secondary schools to make the Aitken Bible available to certain classroom.

His amendment would have also made the Catholic American Bible available in the same scenarios. Woelfel argued the inclusion of the Catholic bible would add balance to the bill and make it constitutional. Opponents of the amendment argued the Aitken Bible was being included for reasons of historical reference rather than religion.

The amendment failed. The bill will be on passage stage in the Senate tomorrow.

The body also introduced Senate Bills 635-653.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

School Choice at 1 p.m. in 451M

Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M

Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for Jan. 29:

Education at 9:30 a.m. in 451M

Government Organization at 9:30 a.m. in 208W

Barnhart Sworn In as Senator from the 3rd District

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Barnhart Sworn In as Senator from the 3rd District

This afternoon, Trenton Barnhart was sworn in as a member of the Senate. Barnhart was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Donna Boley. Justice Charles Trump administered the oath.

Barnhart, a banker who was serving as the delegate from the ninth district, accepted this appointment because it was an opportunity to serve his community in a larger way.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve in this building. Serving the people of my community is something I’ve always dreamed of doing, and I’ll do my best to fill Senator Boley’s shoes,” said Barnhart.

Senator Barnhart represents the 3rd District, which includes Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood, and part of Wirt counties. Barnhart is from St. Mary’s in Pleasant County.

Senator Barnhart was joined by his wife, Brooke, his parents, Mark and Lori, and his aunt and uncle, Helen and Mike Wells. Several House and Senate colleagues joined the Senator for his swearing in.

House Advances Five Bills to the Senate

Soleil Woolard
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House Advances Five Bills to the Senate

The House advanced five bills over to the Senate this morning.

House Bills 4028, 4169, 4215, 4364, and 4422 were advanced to the Senate.

House Bill 4028 would allow a sales tax exemption for construction materials used for public schools.

House Bill 4364 would allow the state to transfer juvenile cases back to the state from federal legislative jurisdiction.

Bills introduced can be found here.

Resolutions introduced can be found here.

In addition to the passage of bills, Delegate Trenton Barnhart (R – Pleasants, 9) addressed the House to announce that he will be leaving the House of Delegates to take on a new position within the Senate.

Committee Meetings, Today January 28

Committee Meetings, Thursday January 29

The House is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 28, 2026.

 

House Finance Hears from AG and DHS

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Finance Hears from AG and DHS

The Committee on Finance met this morning. House Bill 4004 was heard. The bill establishes the Recharge West Virginia Program, which reimburses West Virginia employers for the costs of upskilling their workforces. The bill request the employer increase the employees wage 25 percent upon upskilling.

Then, budget hearings were held by the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security.

The Governor’s recommended budget for the Attorney General’s Office is $6,023,360. The Office is requesting an additional $2,500,000 – $2 million to recruit specialized attorneys to reduce reliance on outside counsel, which is a high expense for the Office. The $500,000 is for infrastructure needs and increasing office expenses. The funds are not to come from the general revenue fund, but from the reappropriation of funds from successful settlements.

The Department of Homeland Security noted proposed supplemental appropriations for FY26. The Department is requesting $132,000 to move the Fusion Center, $230,000 to move the Emergency Management Offices, $1 million for the Mulholland Contract, $2,754,676 for a partial-year increase in the medical contract, $1 million for LIAM legal mal processing, and $500,000 for body cameras for correctional officers.

Jail per diem rates are insufficient to cover the actual daily cost of housing inmates. The actual daily cost is about $90, and the pay base for counties is only $67.27. Food and medical contracts have increased and are expected to continue to increase in future years.

The Department of Homeland Security’s FY27 Governor’s recommended budget is $610,779,990. The Department is requesting an additional $21,851,162 to address budget improvements, including rent increases, vehicle replacements, body camera maintenance, operating shortfalls, medical costs, transitional housing, and BRIM rates.

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