House 4975

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4975

By Delegates Heckert, Crouse, Marple, and Clark

[Introduced January 29, 2026; referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §18-2L-1, relating to the consolidation of county-based school districts; and providing for the creation of 11 regional districts.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 2L. Consolidation of county-based school districts.

§18-2L-1. Consolidation of county-based school districts.

(a) Effective July 1, 2030, the 55 county-based school districts shall be consolidated into 11 regional districts.

(b) The 11 regional districts shall be compromised in the following manner:

(1) Region 1: McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming; 

(2) Region 2: Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Wayne; 

(3) Region 3: Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam; 

(4) Region 4: Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster; 

(5) Region 5: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, Wood; 

(6) Region 6: Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor; 

(7) Region 7: Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur; 

(8) Region 8: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton; 

(9) Region 9: Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan; 

(10) Region 10: Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel; and

(11) Region 11: Brooke, Hancock. 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to consolidate county school boards into 11 regional districts.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.