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HB 5438WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

West Virginia modifies public school foundation allowance to fund accounting systems and teacher training

Original title: To modify the foundation allowance to improve instructional programs.

Last action · June 29, 2026: Chapter 128, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Sponsors: Chris Toney and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Does

West Virginia modifies the public school starting July 1, 2026, to fund a replacement uniform budgeting and accounting system, support the Third Grade Success Act, and allow county boards to use teacher induction allocations for the Safe Schools Fund.

Why it matters

Alters how state education funds are distributed and retained by the Department of Education, providing up to $15 million annually for accounting systems and regional professional learning while granting county boards flexibility to use up to 50 percent of teacher induction allocations for school safety projects.

Who It Affects

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

Directly affected

county boards of education

County boards receive revised foundation allowance allocations, gain the option to use up to 50 percent of teacher induction funds for the Safe Schools Fund, and become eligible for grant distributions.

Directly affected

Department of Education

The Department is authorized to retain up to $15 million for accounting systems and up to $15 million for professional learning initiatives and teacher support.

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 can county boards use teacher and leader induction allocations for?
County boards may utilize up to 50 percent of their allocation for teacher and leader induction in any school year to fund projects identified in the Safe Schools Fund.
How much money can the Department of Education retain for professional learning and accounting systems?
The Department of Education can retain up to $15 million annually for a replacement uniform budgeting and accounting system, and up to $15 million for regional professional learning cadres and teacher leadership networks.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

50 actions
  1. Jun 29, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Chapter 128, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
  2. Mar 25, 2026HouseEnrolled
    To Governor 3/25/26
  3. Mar 14, 2026SenateEnrolled
    Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal
  4. Mar 14, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal
  5. Mar 14, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Approved by Governor 3/27/2026
  6. Mar 14, 2026SenateEnrolled
    To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal
Show 44 earlier actions
  1. Mar 14, 2026Senate
    Completed legislative action
  2. Mar 14, 2026Senate
    Communicated to House
  3. Mar 14, 2026Senate
    Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 714)
  4. Mar 14, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 713)
  5. Mar 14, 2026Senate
    House Message received
  6. Mar 14, 2026House
    Communicated to Senate
  7. Mar 14, 2026House
    Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 686)
  8. Mar 14, 2026HouseFloor
    House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment (Roll No. 685)
  9. Mar 14, 2026House
    House received Senate message
  10. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Senate requests House to concur
  11. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 591)
  12. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Title amendment adopted
  13. Mar 13, 2026SenateFloor
    Passed Senate (Roll No. 590)
  14. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Read 3rd time
  15. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Deferred until foot of 3rd reading
  16. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    On 3rd reading
  17. Mar 12, 2026Senate
    Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)
  18. Mar 12, 2026Senate
    Committee amendments adopted (Voice vote)
  19. Mar 12, 2026Senate
    Read 2nd time
  20. Mar 12, 2026Senate
    On 2nd reading
  21. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Read 1st time
  22. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Immediate consideration
  23. Mar 11, 2026SenateCommittee
    Reported do pass, as amended by Education
  24. Mar 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Finance
  25. Mar 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    Reported do pass, with amendments, but first to Finance
  26. Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Education
  27. Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee
    To Education then Finance
  28. Mar 5, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced in Senate
  29. Mar 4, 2026House
    Communicated to Senate
  30. Mar 4, 2026HouseFloor
    Passed House (Roll No. 312)
  31. Mar 4, 2026House
    Read 3rd time
  32. Mar 4, 2026House
    On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
  33. Mar 3, 2026House
    Read 2nd time
  34. Mar 3, 2026House
    On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
  35. Mar 2, 2026House
    Read 1st time
  36. Mar 2, 2026House
    On 1st reading, Special Calendar
  37. Feb 27, 2026House
    Do pass
  38. Feb 20, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Finance
  39. Feb 20, 2026House
    By substitute, do pass, but first to Finance
  40. Feb 18, 2026House
    Markup Discussion
  41. Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Education
  42. Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  43. Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Education then Finance
  44. Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

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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

Chris ToneyHouse · District 43RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Joe StatlerHouse · District 77RepublicanSponsor

Connected Entities

Safe Schools Fund, Department of Education, Third Grade Success Act
otherSafe Schools Fund“funded up to 50 percent by county boards using teacher and leader induction allo”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Education“retains funds and implements accounting systems and professional learning”Map →
otherThird Grade Success Act“supported by regional professional learning cadres and teacher leadership networ”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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