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SB 399WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia creates Bring Them Home Fund to expand in-state psychiatric and trauma treatment facilities for children

Original title: Creating Bring Them Home Fund

Last action · February 24, 2026: To FinanceSponsors: Randy Smith and 1 other

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

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Proposed

Official description

Creating Bring Them Home Fund

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

Children requiring in-patient psychiatric or trauma services

Children may receive residential treatment within West Virginia closer to family support systems instead of being placed out-of-state.

Directly affected

Department of Human Services

The department is tasked with administering the fund, coordinating property use, entering private agreements, and reinvesting placement savings.

Directly affected

Private child welfare and treatment providers

Providers are eligible to enter into operating, management, or lease agreements to run state-owned or renovated facilities.

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

What is the purpose of the Bring Them Home Fund?
The fund is created to finance the creation and expansion of quality, in-state residential treatment facilities for children needing acute psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, or trauma services.
Where does the money for the fund come from?
The fund consists of legislative appropriations, grants, gifts, donations, investment income, revolving fund revenues, and reinvested savings from reduced out-of-state placements.
Can private entities operate facilities funded by this measure?
Yes, the Secretary of the Department of Human Services may enter into operating or management agreements, including real property leases, with private entities.
Are private facilities allowed to accept out-of-state children?
A third party operating a state-owned facility may not accept out-of-state children unless the department certifies in writing that all in-state placement needs are satisfied.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

Coverage by outlet perspective1 article
Center 1
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets
C

Can Illinois’ newest state agency improve early childhood services? Officials hope so.

WBEZ ChicagoJul 1, 2026

Illinois has consolidated early childhood services, including daycare and preschool programs, under a single new state agency. The Department of Early Childhood aims to simplify access for families by replacing a fragmented system previously managed by three separate state departments.

Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

8 actions
  1. Feb 24, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Finance
  2. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance
  3. Feb 21, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Judiciary
  4. Feb 21, 2026Senate
    Without recommendation, but first to Judiciary then Finance
  5. Jan 15, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Health and Human Resources
  6. Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced in Senate
Show 2 earlier actions
  1. Jan 15, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Health and Human Resources then Finance
  2. Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroduced
    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

Randy SmithSenateRepublicanPrimary sponsor
Mike WoelfelSenateDemocraticSponsor

Connected Entities

General Revenue Fund, Department of Human Services, Bring Them Home Fund and 1 more
OrganizationGeneral Revenue Fund“State fund exempt from receiving year-end balances from the new fund”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Human Services“State agency administering the fund”Map →
OrganizationBring Them Home Fund“Special revenue fund created by the bill”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Education“Agency coordinating on state properties”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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