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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill 4855 Eliminates State Department of Education and Overhauls Funding Distribution
Last action · January 28, 2026: To House EducationSponsors: Corby Dillon and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 4855 abolishes the West Virginia Department of Education, transfers financial management to the State Treasurer, and distributes funds directly to counties based on population and land mass, effective July 1 following enactment.
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.
certificated classroom teachers
Teachers receive annual classroom expense account amounts disbursed from county school accounts.
county boards of education
County boards take over certain program administration functions, receive direct fund distributions, and must use and publish purchase-card transactions.
State Treasurer
The State Treasurer becomes custodian of the new School Fund, administers fund distribution, and publishes searchable purchase-card data.
West Virginia Department of Education
The department and all its statutory offices, divisions, and programs are completely abolished.
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 happens to the West Virginia Department of Education under this bill?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Education
- Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Education then Finance
- Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled 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 85)
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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