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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Authorizes County School Boards to Employ or Accept Certified Chaplains
Last action · February 4, 2026: To EducationSponsors: Mike Azinger and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
County boards of education in West Virginia are authorized to employ or accept as volunteers s to provide support, services, and programs for students, staff, and parents. Chaplains must undergo fingerprint-based background checks and are exempt from state teaching or professional licensing requirements.
Changes school staffing options for local boards by permitting s to operate within schools under specific liability protections and background check requirements.
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.
county boards of education
County school boards gain the authority to employ or accept certified chaplains, select them, assign their duties, and ensure they complete background checks.
students, staff, and parents
Students, staff, and parents are eligible to receive support, services, and programs provided by the authorized chaplains.
certified chaplains
Chaplains become eligible for employment or volunteer roles in public schools under specific liability protections and background check mandates.
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
Are school chaplains required to have a state teaching license?
What background checks are required for school chaplains?
Can a county school board have more than one chaplain?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 4, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Education
- Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Feb 4, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Education then Judiciary
- Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled 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
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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