Several homeschool related bills have been introduced in the 2026 legislative session. As of today, only two (HB 4062 and 5053) have been taken up in committee for discussion. CHEWV is providing this list to keep you informed. We will provide additional information if the bills progress.
Each year, many bills are introduced but never taken up by a committee. As always, we strive to keep you informed and also to alert you if any high priority actions are needed.
HB 4062 (Delegate Crouse, Putnam).
Allows organized homeschool athletic teams to participate in interscholastic athletic competitions with West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) member schools while ensuring that homeschool teams do not affect official WVSSAC rankings, standings, or postseason play. Taken up the House Ed Choice Committee.
HB 4063 (Delegate Crouse, Putnam). Creates a new section (Article 36) in state code that requires the State Board of Education to create an internet portal that could be used to submit required notifications and assessments for counties. Does NOT move oversight of homeschoolers to State Board of Education.
HB 4066 (Delegate Crouse, Putnam). Creates a $500 penalty for state or county boards of education for providing misinformation to parents, custodians, reviewers, or any other individual—such as misleading information about notice of intent requirements or access to public school classes. Referred to House Education, then to House Judiciary Committee.
HB 4112 (Delegate Crouse, Putnam). Provides tax credit for homeschool students in an amount equivalent to what a student who is eligible for the HOPE Scholarship would receive. Referred to House Education, then to House Finance Committee.
HB 4136 (Delegate Pritt, Fayette). Adds requirements for homeschool (Option c.2) portfolio reviewers. Requirements include in-person training for reviewers, certification in the age range of the student being evaluated, and requires teacher to be certified in core content areas such as math and English. Referred to House Ed Choice Committee.
HB 4136 inserts language in the homeschool law (18-8-1 of the State Code), and so it potentially “opens up” the law for further amendment if the bill is taken up by committee.
HB 4145 (Delegate Crouse, Putnam). Authorizes the Governor’s office to create a school choice office with adequate personnel to assist students and parents participating in a school choice option and provide students and parents with information about all available options for attending school in West Virginia. Referred to House Government Organization Committee, then to House Finance Committee.
HB 5204 (Delegate Lewis, Kanawha). Child Captivity Prevention Act. Adds a new section,18-8-1b, that requires new homeschoolers moving to the state to have a mandatory home visit by the Department of Human Services to “assure home schooled children moving to the state are not subject to abuse or neglect.” Referred to House Education Committee.
HB 5053 (Delegates Toney, Campbell, and Cooper) Establishes a 90-day time limit during which a family involved in an “active truancy or pre-petition process cannot petition to withdraw the student for homeschooling. Additionally, the West Virginia Department of Education is encouraged to undergo a comprehensive survey of public-school families who choose to homeschool to identify systemic drivers for the decision.” Taken up by Public Education Subcommittee for hearing on Thursday, February 12. See separate article dated February 11.
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