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HB 4940WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Protects Teachers' Right to Use Crowdfunding for Classrooms

Original title: Relating to teacher fundraising

Last action · January 29, 2026: To House EducationSponsors: Pritt and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

Relating to teacher fundraising

Why it matters

Changes fundraising rules for public school teachers across West Virginia by explicitly barring local school boards from restricting online or modern donation methods, while establishing mandatory transparency rules for how those donations are publicized and allocated.

Background
  • West Virginia county boards of education operate under Chapter 18 of the West Virginia Code, which outlines local board authorities and powers regarding school management and operations. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Teachers

Teachers gain explicit protection to use crowdfunding and other current fundraising methods without interference from county boards or administrators.

Directly affected

County boards of education

County boards lose the authority to ban or prevent teachers from utilizing crowdfunding or modern fundraising methods.

Directly affected

School administrators

Administrators are prohibited from blocking teacher-led crowdfunding and must ensure schools comply with pre-publicity and fund designation rules.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can school administrators stop teachers from starting a crowdfunding campaign?
No. Under the bill, members, officers, and school administrators are explicitly prohibited from preventing teachers from using crowd-sourcing or other meaningful current methods of fundraising.
Are there any requirements before a teacher or school can start a fundraiser?
Yes. Prior to commencing the activity, the school must publicize the activity as intended for that purpose and designate for that purpose the funds generated.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Jan 29, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Education
  2. Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Jan 29, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Education
  4. Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

PrittHousePrimary sponsorNo profile match
Kathie Hess CrouseHouse · District 19RepublicanSponsor
Bill BellHouse · District 8RepublicanSponsor

Connected Entities

Bill Bell, Kathie Hess Crouse, House Education and 1 more
PersonBill Bell“Cosponsor of House Bill 4940”Map →
PersonKathie Hess Crouse“Cosponsor of House Bill 4940”Map →
OrganizationHouse Education“Committee to which House Bill 4940 was referred”Map →
PersonPritt“Lead sponsor of House Bill 4940”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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