West VirginiaPublic colleges may support women’s Olympic sports through permanent invested funds
West Virginia public colleges with women’s sports may invest money in permanent funds and use only the earnings to support women’s Olympic sports programs.
What it does
West Virginia public colleges with women’s sports may set up permanent invested funds for women’s Olympic sports. Only investment earnings can pay program expenses; the original money stays untouched.
Colleges may add matching money if lawmakers fund it, within annual caps. Savings cannot come from cuts to academic programs, faculty jobs, or essential student services, or undermine federal sex-discrimination protections.
Participating colleges must report each year on savings, funding, spending, and compliance with federal sex-discrimination protections. The invested funds must also undergo periodic independent audits.
Argument forKeeping the original money invested could provide lasting income to help colleges pay for women’s Olympic sports programs.
Argument againstKeeping the original money untouched could limit how much colleges can spend on urgent program needs when investment earnings are low.
More detail
Public colleges may establish permanent invested funds for women’s Olympic sports. Eligible colleges are public colleges in West Virginia with women’s sports. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission may also establish or designate a statewide fund for them. The original invested money must remain untouched, and investments must follow state standards. Earnings may pay only for expenses directly tied to women’s college Olympic sports, such as scholarships, staff, and facilities. These provisions took effect July 1, 2026.
Eligible colleges may put matching money into women’s athletics funds based on certified cost savings. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission may certify savings from more efficient operations at West Virginia public colleges with women’s sports. Matching money depends on lawmakers setting aside funds and is limited by annual caps they establish. Savings cannot come from cuts to academic programs, faculty jobs, or essential student services, or actions that undermine Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination in education. These provisions took effect July 1, 2026. The commission may certify savings at the close of a fiscal year.
Participating colleges must report annually, and the invested funds must undergo periodic independent audits. Colleges report to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The commission must send a combined annual report to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Government and Finance. College reports must cover savings, matching money, private donations, spending, and compliance with Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination in education. These duties took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 170, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 27Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026Major
- Mar 18To Governor 3/18/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - Senate JournalMajor
- Vote recorded Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - House JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to House
- Mar 14Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 665)
- Mar 14Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 664)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 13Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded EFFECT Jul 01, 2026. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 533)
- Mar 13Passed House (Roll No. 532)Passed House
- Mar 13Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 13On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 12Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 112nd reference dispensed
- Mar 11Do pass, but first to FinanceMinor
- Mar 10Markup Discussion
- Mar 5To House EducationMinor
- Mar 5To Education then FinanceMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in HouseMinor
- Mar 5House received Senate message
- Mar 3Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 293)
- Mar 3Passed Senate (Roll No. 292)Passed Senate
- Mar 3Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 3rd reading
- Mar 2Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 2On 2nd reading
- Feb 27Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 27On 1st reading
- Feb 26Com. sub. for com. sub. reported
- Feb 6To FinanceMinor
- Feb 6Committee substitute reported, but first to FinanceMinor
- Jan 19To EducationMinor
- Jan 19Introduced in SenateMinor
- Jan 19To Education then FinanceMinor
- Jan 19Filed for introductionIntroduced
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