West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

West Virginia Senate Bill SB 216

Introduced
1/14/26  

Caption

Restoring Private Schools Act of 2026

Summary

SB 216 is titled the "Restoring Private Schools Act of 2026," but the bill text was not available in the provided materials, so its specific statutory changes cannot be confirmed from the record here. Based on the caption and referral, the measure appears to be a school-choice bill focused on private schools, likely addressing how private education is treated under state law and potentially how families may access or support private-school enrollment. Because the bill text is unavailable, the exact legal mechanisms are unclear. Bills with this type of caption commonly involve issues such as tuition assistance, education savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships, regulatory exemptions, or other policies intended to expand private-school participation. Any actual impact on state law would depend on the final provisions, including whether the bill creates new programs, alters funding rules, or changes oversight requirements for private schools and participating students or families.

Impact

Without the bill text, the precise statutory impact cannot be identified. The bill’s referral to the Senate School Choice committee suggests it would likely affect education statutes governing private-school access, school-choice programs, or state education funding arrangements, and could also affect parents, students, private schools, and potentially public-school funding if state resources are redirected or eligibility rules are changed.

Sentiment

There is no committee transcript or recorded vote history in the provided materials, so the public or legislative sentiment cannot be measured directly. The bill’s title and committee referral indicate it is being considered within a school-choice framework, which typically attracts support from advocates of parental choice and private education, while drawing scrutiny from those concerned about public-school funding, accountability, and equitable access.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record because there are no transcripts or votes. In bills of this type, the main disputes usually center on whether public funds should support private education, what accountability standards private schools should face, whether the measure benefits all families or only those able to access private options, and whether the policy would weaken public-school systems.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

WV SB929

Restoring Private Schools Act of 2025

WV SB424

Restoring Sanity Act

WV HB3319

Restoring Sanity Act

WV HB2582

Restoring the Rule of 80 for all State Employees.

WV HB2678

Relating to school zones of public or private schools

WV SB643

Restoring voting rights for person incarcerated for felony upon release

WV SB635

Limiting use of state funding under Hope Scholarship program for out-of-state private schools and providers

WV SB108

Relating to voluntary immunization in private schools

WV HB2955

Limiting the use of state funding under the Hope Scholarship Program for out-of-state private schools and providers

WV HB2726

Remove standardized testing in public and private schools

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.