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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Senate Bill 39 requires a 12-week heart health and nutrition program for public school students in grades three through six
Last action · January 14, 2026: To EducationSponsor: Patricia Rucker
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What This Bill Proposed
West Virginia public schools must require students in grades three through six to complete a 12-week heart health program featuring at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three days a week and nutrition instruction. The state board of education and school districts must implement curriculum alignment, tracking journals, pre- and post-testing data reporting, and optional third-party service provider contracts.
Changes daily instructional requirements and health assessments for elementary and middle school students in grades three through six, while permitting school districts to contract with external providers on a per-student rate for heart health curricula.
- The West Virginia Legislature convenes annually for regular sessions to pass statutory updates governing public education and state health mandates. 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.
Public school students in grades three through six
Students must actively participate in 12 consecutive weeks of nutrition and aerobic exercise classes, complete tracking journals, undergo pre- and post-testing, and receive a pass or fail grade.
Classroom, physical education, and health teachers
Teachers must provide time during the school day for aerobic exercise, nutrition education, journal tracking, and complete turnkey evidence-based education access.
County school districts
Districts may issue requests for proposals to contract with service providers and are required to annually report participating schools and aggregated pre- and post-testing data to the state department.
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
Which students are required to participate in the new heart health program?
What does the aerobic exercise requirement consist of?
How is student performance graded in the heart health program?
Are school districts permitted to hire outside vendors for this program?
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- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Education
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Education then Finance
- Jan 14, 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 60)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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