West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 1 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 1036 — Creating Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act

Last action — To House Finance

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

This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Creating Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

13 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of Bill SB 1036 has removed the requirement for automatic annual adjustments to foster care rates based on recognized economic indexes. Instead, it focuses on using current cost data for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, to set special and therapeutic foster care rates. This change simplifies the process of adjusting rates and emphasizes immediate alignment with present costs, which could help ensure that foster care providers receive adequate support without the complexities of automatic adjustments. This matters because it aims to stabilize foster care funding and improve the quality of care for children by directly addressing current financial needs.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced FISCAL Senate Bill 1036 NOTE By Senator Helton [Introduced February 20, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1036 BYSENATORH ELTON AGARCIA [Reported March 2, 2026, from the Committee on Finance] CS for SB 1036 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §49-13-1, relating to creating the Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act;
referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources;
and then to the Committee on Finance] Intr SB 1036 2026R4296 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §49-13-1, relating to creating the Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act;
SUSTAINABLE CHILD-SERVING WORKFORCE & FOSTER CARE MODERNIZATION ACT.
SUSTAINABLE CHILD-SERVING WORKFORCE AND FOSTER CARE MODERNIZATION ACT.
Foster Care Rate Modernization and Workforce Stabilization.
Foster care rate modernization and workforce stabilization.
(a) The Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services, shall rebase basic, special, and therapeutic foster care rates using current cost data and implement an automatic annual adjustment based on a recognized index such as the Employment Cost Index (ECI) for Health Care & Social Assistance or the CPI-Medical index.
(a) The Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services, shall rebase basic, special, and therapeutic foster care rates using current cost data for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to create the Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce & Foster Care Modernization Act.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Health and Human Resources then Finance

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Health and Human Resources

  5. Reported do pass, but first to Finance

  6. To Finance

  7. Committee substitute reported

  8. Immediate consideration

  9. Read 1st time

  10. On 2nd reading

  11. Read 2nd time

  12. On 3rd reading

  13. Read 3rd time

  14. Passed Senate (Roll No. 350)

  15. Ordered to House

  16. House received Senate message

  17. Introduced in House

  18. To Finance

  19. To House Finance

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 150 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (150)

150 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Subjects

public-safety housing healthcare labor education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1036 do?
Creating Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act
Who sponsors SB 1036?
SB 1036 is sponsored by Brian Helton (Republican) and Joey Garcia (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 1036?
This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1036?
Track SB 1036 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 7 days ago · updated continuously

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