Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateWest VirginiaIntroduced
HB 5694: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.
Pat McGeehan
HB 5694 status: Introduced — Chapter 51, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (updated Aug 13, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
76OUT OF 100
Score:76/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality100%
Bipartisan80%
Public opinion85%
Bill summary
What changes
This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $146,237,440 to the West Virginia Department of Education for the 2026 fiscal year, derived from the state's unappropriated surplus balance.
Who is affected
West Virginia public school students, teachers, county boards of education, and the State Department of Education.
Requirements and enforcement
The Department must adhere to 40+ specific line-item funding mandates, including $2.9M for school mapping and $8M for a Hancock County financial loan program.
Costs and funding
$146,237,440 drawn from the existing state general revenue surplus.
When it takes effect
In effect from passage; applies to fiscal year 2026.
Potential benefits
Supports teacher pension stabilization, local school board solvency, student nutrition, and physical safety improvements in school buildings.
Risks and tradeoffs
Reliance on surplus funds for recurring operational needs may create budget gaps in future years; extensive earmarking complicates programmatic oversight.
What is still unknown
The effectiveness of specific small-scale programs in achieving their intended educational outcomes is not detailed in the bill.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Provides $39.8M toward teachers' retirement obligations
- Directly supports local school board financial stability via $8M loan
- Invests in HVAC infrastructure and building maintenance
Risks
- Relies on unappropriated surplus, creating non-recurring funding reliance
- Risk of inefficient allocation across diverse programmatic needs
- Potential for administrative overhead in managing 40+ specific line items
Society
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Expands resources for High Acuity Special Needs students
- Supports early literacy initiatives with $5.7M
- Enhances student wellness via childhood nutrition programs
Risks
- Distribution disparities between different county school systems
- Reliance on short-term supplemental funding for long-term programs
- Potential for inequitable access to competitive grant-like programs
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Explicit legislative line-item funding improves budget transparency
- Directs specific use of surplus for audit-able school safety projects
- Requires certification of expenditure for school mapping funds
Risks
- Extensive list of line items may obscure overarching educational strategy
- Limited oversight mechanisms for local use of general allowance funds
- Implementation complexity complicates standard legislative budget audits
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Allocates $7.2M for safe school initiatives and infrastructure
- Provides $2.9M specifically for mandatory school mapping
- Funds childhood drug prevention and education programs
Risks
- Lack of standardized outcomes for evaluating safety program efficacy
- Potential for over-prioritization of physical security over mental health
- Difficulty assessing the long-term impact of non-recurring safety funding
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Funding relies on non-recurring surplus revenue, which may not be sustainable for recurring program costs
Analysis scope
Does not include performance evaluation data for the funded programs
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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