HB 4575, the bill providing $8 million in aid to school districts, passed Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday and is currently on 1st reading before the full Senate. Under normal Senate rules, the bill would advance to 2nd reading (amendment stage) on Thursday and progress to 3rd reading for passage on Friday. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan (R-1st), the House suspended its rules to allow the Bill advance through all 3 readings in one day and pass through to the Senate for action. It is unknown at this time if the Senate would also put the Bill on the fast track.
The bill, which makes a supplemental appropriation to the Board of Education takes the $8 million from the unappropriated surplus balance of the State’s general revenue fund.
Although the bill does not specify what school district will receive the funds, it is widely known by legislators that the legislation will rescue Hancock County after discovering they were in a fiscal crisis. Then Superintendent Dan Enich fired CFO Joe Campinelli when it was discovered the District had been non-compliant in financial reporting, not utilizing the WVEIS system and consistently not turning financial reports into the State Board of Education. On January 16, 2026, the State Board of Education voted to take the Hancock County school district over and fire the superintendent and assistant superintendent.
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