West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 2 R cosponsors

SB 1077 — Requiring vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students

Last action — To House Education

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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

Summary

Requiring vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

23 added · 18 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill SB 1077 now requires that vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students in West Virginia and can only be terminated if they have the lowest enrollment compared to other vocational programs. Additionally, if a county school district decides to end such a program, it must provide a report explaining its reasons to a legislative oversight body. This change is significant because it aims to ensure the continued availability of agriculture education, emphasizing its benefits for both students and the state's economy.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 1077 By Senator Smith (Mr.
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1077 BY SENATORSS MITH(MR.
President) [Introduced February 23, 2026;
RESIDENT),AYLOR AND HAMILTON [Reported February 26, 2026, from the Committee on Education] CS for SB 1077 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §18-5-55, relating to requiring vocational education agriculture programs to be offered to all students;
referred to the Committee on Education] Intr SB 1077 2026R4332 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-55, relating to vocational education;
making findings;
and protecting vocational education agriculture programs.
allowing termination of a vocational education agriculture program only if enrollment is the lowest enrollment of all vocational education programs;
requiring if a county school district terminates its vocational education agriculture program that the district submit a report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability explaining the reasoning for terminating its program.
(a) The Legislature finds that when county boards need to cut expenditures, vocational education agriculture programs are too often the area in which county boards choose to reduce their spending.
(a) The Legislature finds that agriculture offers many benefits to the state and its individual citizens such as enhanced self-sufficiency, additional food security, contributions to the economy, and the enjoyment and satisfaction that can be experienced from various forms of agriculture.
(b) In order to protect vocational education agriculture programs in West Virginia, no county board may reduce its expenditure on vocational education agriculture programs during the 2027 fiscal year from the amount that the county board spends on vocational education agriculture programs during the current fiscal year.
(b) Vocational education agriculture programs shall be offered to all students, and these programs may only be terminated if the enrollment is the lowest enrollment of all vocational education programs.
NOTE:
If a county school district terminates its program, the county school district shall submit a report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability explaining the reasoning for terminating its program.
The purpose of this bill is to protect vocational education agriculture programs.
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. House received Senate message

  2. Introduced in House

  3. To Education

  4. To House Education

  5. On 3rd reading

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. Passed Senate (Roll No. 290)

  8. Ordered to House

  9. On 2nd reading

  10. Read 2nd time

  11. Committee substitute reported

  12. Immediate consideration

  13. Read 1st time

  14. Filed for introduction

  15. To Education

  16. Introduced in Senate

  17. To Education

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (149)

149 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

education agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1077 do?
Requiring vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students
Who sponsors SB 1077?
SB 1077 is sponsored by Taylor, Randy E. Smith (Republican), and Bill Hamilton (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 1077?
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 1077?
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Last checked for changes 17 days ago · updated continuously

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