West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 10 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 581 — Relating to school attendance and student participation in 4-H activities

Last action — Chapter 86, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 24, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on August 08, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (10 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Senate Bill 581 expands the definition of an excused absence to include up to five college visits and participation in various approved student organizations, like SkillsUSA and FBLA. This change allows students to be credited as present for these activities, meaning they won't be marked absent and can make up missed schoolwork. This matters because it encourages student enrichment and involvement in extracurricular activities, while ensuring their academic performance isn't negatively impacted by these important experiences.

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Latest
SB581 SFA MARTIN #1 4-12Hager  7871 Senator Martin moved to amend the House of Delegate’s amendment on pages 2 and 3, section 4, lines 23 through 46, by striking out all of paragraph (I) and inserting in lieu thereof a new paragraph (I) to read as follows:(I) A student in any West Virginia Department of Education recognized and sanctioned student organization to enhance student enrichment and success, including but not limited to SkillsUSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), the Common Ground Partnership, or 4-H or FFA sanctioned activity or program, subject to the following:(i) A student who participates in an activity or program sanctioned in paragraph (I) shall be credited as present by the school in which the student is enrolled in the same manner as a student participating in an educational field trip.
SB581 SFAT MARTIN #1 4-12Hager  7871 Senator Martin moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:
A school principal, or the principal's designee, shall not count a student absent for participating in an activity or program sanctioned in paragraph (I).(ii) An agent of a sanctioned organization set forth in in paragraph (I) shall provide documentation as proof of a student's participation in an activity or program sanctioned in paragraph (I).(iii) A student shall make up any schoolwork missed while the student was participating in an activity or program sanctioned by paragraph (I) and shall not have the student's class grades adversely affected for lack of attendance or participation due to the student's participation in an activity or program sanctioned in paragraph (I).(iv) A school principal, or the principal's designee, shall not credit a student who participates in an activity or program sanctioned in paragraph (I) as present if the student's participation in the activity or program sanctioned in paragraph (I) occurs during any period of time for which the student has been suspended, expelled, or assigned to an alternative school or alternative program under this chapter and the student's suspension, expulsion, or assignment to an alternative school or alternative program would preclude the student from participating in an educational field trip.   AdoptedRejected
Eng.
Com.
Sub.
for Senate Bill 581—A BILL to amend and reenact §18-8-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding the definition of an excused absence;
including up to five college visits in the definition of excused absence;
including a student in any West Virginia Department of Education recognized and sanctioned student organization to enhance student enrichment and success, including but not limited to SkillsUSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), the Common Ground Partnership, or 4-H or FFA sanctioned activity or program in the definition of excused absence;
providing that the student be credited as present in the same manner as a student participating in an educational field trip;
providing that the student not be counted as absent;
addressing makeup of missed schoolwork and the student’s class grades;
addressing student sanctioned program participation during any period of time the student has been suspended, expelled, or assigned to an alternative school or program;
providing that an agent of a sanctioned organization shall provide documentation as proof of a student's participation in a sanctioned activity or program;
providing that the total amount of certain excused absences may not exceed more than 10 per school year;
and providing that nothing in this section shall interfere with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).     AdoptedRejected
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Action History

  1. Chapter 86, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  2. Approved by Governor 4/24/2025

  3. To Governor 4/21/2025

  4. Approved by Governor 4/24/2025 - House Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 4/24/2025 - Senate Journal

  6. To Governor 4/21/2025 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 4/21/2025 - Senate Journal

  8. House Message received

  9. Completed legislative action

  10. Communicated to Senate

  11. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 636)

  12. House received Senate message

  13. Senate requests House to concur

  14. Senate amended House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 576)

  15. House Message received

  16. Communicated to Senate

  17. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  18. Passed House (Roll No. 511)

  19. Read 3rd time

  20. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  21. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  22. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  23. Read 2nd time

  24. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  25. Read 1st time

  26. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  27. With amendment, do pass

  28. Markup Discussion

  29. To House Education

  30. To Education

  31. Introduced in House

  32. House received Senate message

  33. Ordered to House

  34. Title amendment adopted

  35. Passed Senate (Roll No. 63)

  36. Floor amendments adopted (Voice vote)

  37. Read 3rd time

  38. On 3rd reading with right to amend

  39. Read 2nd time

  40. On 2nd reading

  41. Read 1st time

  42. On 1st reading

  43. Committee substitute reported

  44. To Education

  45. Introduced in Senate

  46. To Education

  47. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 141 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 99 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 84001
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 99001
% of votes cast 99%0%0%1%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Yea
Clark, T — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Not Voting
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 96 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 81004
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 96004
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Yea
Clark, T — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Not Voting
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Not Voting
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Not Voting
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Not Voting
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 29000
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 34000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Anne B. Charnock Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Bill Hamilton Republican Yea
Brian Helton Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Craig A. Hart Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patrick Martin Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Scott Fuller Republican Yea
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 581?
SB 581 is sponsored by Mike Oliverio (Republican), Amy Grady (Republican), Jack Woodrum (Republican), Robbie Morris (Republican), Charles H. Clements (Republican), Darren Thorne (Republican), Vince Deeds (Republican), Craig A. Hart (Republican), Bill Hamilton (Republican), Patrick Martin (Republican), and Joey Garcia (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 581?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 24, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 581?
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