2026 Regular Session
Link to Bill History on Legacy Website (Click Here)Summary: Prohibiting public funds from supporting low-earning outcome postsecondary degree programs
PDF: sb618 intr.pdf
DOCX: SB618 INTR.docx
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
FISCAL NOTE
Introduced
Senate Bill 618
By Senator Rucker
[Introduced January 27, 2026; referred
to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding three new sections, designated §18B-1D-13, §18B-1D-14, and §18B-1D-15, relating to prohibiting state funds from being used for certain degrees; and creating an effective date.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 1D. HIGHER EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY.
§18B-1D-13. Duties of the Higher Education Policy Council.
The Higher Education Policy Council shall:
(1) Adopt rules to prohibit state funds from being allocated or expended, either directly or indirectly, for low-earning degree programs. These restrictions shall include, but are not limited to, the following categories of higher education funding:
(A) Individual student financial aid;
(B) Base operational or instructional funding;
(C) Separately or specially appropriated aid or grants; and
(D) Capital or facilities funding.
(2) Annually review updated federal determinations of low-earning outcome programs under section 84001 of Public Law No. 119-21 and adopt rules in accordance with subsection (1).
(3) Submit an annual and publicly available report to the legislature documenting:
(A) Programs prohibited from receiving state aid;
(B) Enforcement of such prohibitions; and
(C) The estimated fiscal impact due to the prohibitions.
§18B-1D-14. Limitations on administering higher education aid.
A political subdivision of this state shall not allocate or expend local public funds, either directly or indirectly, for low-earning outcome degree programs as determined under §18B-1D-13 of this code.
§18B-1D-15. Effective date.
This act shall take effect upon passage.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to limit the degrees for which state funds can be used to obtain.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.