The House Committee on Education advanced a bill on Wednesday afternoon that would allow students in the eighth and ninth grades to attend summer school to improve their grades and be granted eligibility to participate in fall sports.

House Bill 4422 addresses academic eligibility requirements for student participation in fall athletic sports.

The bill was reported to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

The House Judiciary Committee met briefly Wednesday morning to advance two bills addressing mental health and juvenile jurisdiction and held a hearing on one bill.

House Bill 4169 addresses mental health examination requirements by updating state law to ensure consistency across related legal processes.

The purpose of the bill is to align the standards for mental health examinations used in certain court proceedings with those already required for involuntary hospitalization.

The bill was reported to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

House Bill 4364 addresses juvenile jurisdiction on military installations by updating the sharing of authority between the federal government and the state.

The purpose of the bill is to allow the transfer of exclusive federal legislative jurisdiction back to the state in cases involving juveniles.

After considering the previous bills, the Committee then held a hearing on HB4484.

House Bill 4484 would grant county commissions the same flexibility currently afforded to municipalities when selling or leasing public property.

The purpose of the bill is to expand local authority by allowing counties to manage their real property under similar standards and procedures as cities and towns.

The House Finance Committee met this morning. A committee hearing was held on House Bill 4028, which would provide contractors of school facilities with a tax exemption on construction materials. Currently, sales taxes are imposed on School Board Authority projects. The removal of the 6 percent sales tax will increase the SBA’s purchasing power. There will be a reduction in costs because sales tax revenue can be redirected to other projects. This removal will stretch bond dollars for projects, as construction workers will no longer need to include a tax buffer in their calculations.

The committee also heard a budget presentation from the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and the Community and Technical College System (CTCS).

Higher education in West Virginia is affordable and attainable. Chancellor Sarah Tucker stated WV’s higher education system is meeting current and future needs of WV, its citizens, and its economy.

The nine community and technical colleges have an annual enrollment of 19,839 students. Of these students, 52 percent are part-time, 94 percent are WV residents, 48 percent receive financial aid, and the average age is 26. The 12 baccalaureate and Medical Institutions have an annual enrollment of 63,690 students. Of these students, 49,864 are undergraduate students, 57 percent receive financial aid, 66 percent are WV students, and the average age is 21.

HEPC is requesting $519,968,668 for FY27, and CTCS is requesting $ 91,396,984 for FY27. For FY26, the HEPC is requesting $290,531 for the Dual Enrollment Program. FY27 improvement request funding totals $12,575,269 for the Dual Enrollment Program, Capital Projects/Deferred Maintenance, and WV Invests Programs.

The Dual Enrollment Program allows students to get a head start in higher education. The additional funding allows students who normally wouldn’t be able to take these courses to take them. The program will be limited to juniors and seniors with a limited number of courses. The WV Invest Grant Program has seen growth over the past two years in degree production and credentials awarded in fields like allied health, education, information technology, hospitality, and tourism. Many Invest students are graduating without student loan debt.

The HEPC will continue to work on increasing college-going rate, attainment rate, and awareness of affordability. There are opportunities to increase accessibility by flattening financial aid and providing medical student loans.

The Committee on Health and Human Resources met Tuesday afternoon, advancing two bills and holding hearings on additional legislation relating to kinship and child welfare.

House Bill 4022 sets rules for assigning child protective services workers by county and requires reporting any changes to their placement.

The bill ensures counties have the correct number of CPS workers where they’re needed most. The legislation also gives the commissioner authority to adjust assignments based on each county’s immediate needs.

The bill was sent to the House with a recommendation to pass.

House Bill 4354 sets requirements for clothing and essential items for foster children.
The bill establishes what constitutes an adequate wardrobe for children in the state’s legal custody and outlines how payments for these necessities will be made.
The bill was sent to the House with the recommendation that it do pass, first being referred to the Committee on Finance.

The Committee then held hearings on HB4390, relating to the Kinship Parent Subsidy, and HB4393, relating to a Statewide Prevention Plan.

House Bill 4390 ensures that kinship parents receive a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent in certain situations and establishes the timeline for when these payments must be made.

The bill was marked up for further consideration.

House Bill 4393 requires the creation and implementation of a statewide prevention plan with trauma-informed, evidence-based services for children at risk.

The bill aims to provide support and resources to children and families who may need help, whether they currently have an open child welfare or youth services case.

The bill was marked up for further discussion.