West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, presides over a Saturday floor session. -- Photo courtesy/WV Legislative Photography

CHARLESTON – With just over three weeks left in the 2026 legislative session, the West Virginia Senate held its first Saturday floor session, passing several pieces of legislation, including a bill providing funding for Hancock County Schools.

The Senate passed House Bill 4575, making an $8 million supplemental appropriation to the state Board of Education for Hancock County Schools, in a 27-1 vote with six members absent or not voting.

The money for the Hancock County Board of Education is intended to prevent a total financial collapse and missed payrolls at the end of the current fiscal year following the state’s intervention in the county’s troubled school system.

State Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, offered a successful amendment to HB 4575 Friday, changing the name of the line item to “Hancock County Board of Education Financial Stability Loan Program” after concerns were raised earlier this week by members of the Senate Finance Committee that the county might not be required to pay the money back to the state.

“It changes nothing technical about the bill,” Weld explained Friday. “I knew there was discussion in the Finance Committee whether or not this was absolutely a loan being made to Hancock County, and I thought that further clarification could be needed. So, in discussions with members of the Finance Committee, I offered this amendment that we have before us.”

Hancock County Schools is facing a nearly $3.1 million funding shortfall, caused by employing more teachers and staff than it can afford under the state aid formula, questionable financial decisions and purchases, and not recording its accounting in the West Virginia Education Information System avoiding accountability, obscuring its financial condition from state officials. The county is now under the control of the Department of Education, with Hancock County Board of Education authority limited and a state-appointed superintendent and assistant superintendent.

The $8 million would provide a bridge to get Hancock County Schools through June and the start of the next fiscal year on July 1.

Speaking after the Senate floor session, Grady said a companion bill still in the Senate Education Committee – House Bill 4574 – would no longer be needed. That bill would have established a “Temporary Shortfall Supplement Fund for County Boards of Education,” a new fund to provide loans – limited to honoring personnel obligations and other essential operating expenses – for school systems categorized as either financially distressed or in a state of maladministration.

“It’s our understanding in the Senate we don’t need the bill that we now have, the House bill that’s been sitting in Education because we have established that this appropriation is a loan,” Grady said.

State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio, has been a vocal supporter of both bills. She thanked the Senate for passing the supplemental appropriation Saturday.

“It’s a terrible situation, but because of you, the innocent teachers, bus drivers, cooks and staff will be paid,” Chapman said. “It was through no fault of their own that they were in this awful situation. I look forward to working with all of you to ensure that this particular situation never happens again. I appreciate you putting people over ideology, and the people of Hancock County thank you.”