The West Virginia Senate recently passed a bill that would give lawmakers the authority to approve education rules and policies developed by the state Board of Education. The bill, known as Senate Bill 705, would require all legislative rules enacted by the board to be authorized by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee and then submitted to the full Legislature for review. The bill is similar to House Bill 2755, which would send proposed rules to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability for an up-or-down vote. However, critics argue that the bill raises state constitutional issues and goes against a previous decision by the West Virginia Supreme Court ruling similar legislation unconstitutional.
Despite a failed constitutional amendment in 2022 that sought to clarify the legislative review of education policies, state lawmakers are pushing forward with this new bill. Supporters of the bill argue that it ensures accountability and upholds the Legislature’s authority provided by the West Virginia Constitution. However, opponents, including State Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Amy Grady, believe that the bill undermines the will of the voters who rejected the constitutional amendment.
The bill’s passage in the Senate comes after a similar bill was passed by the House of Delegates, signaling potential support for the measure in both chambers. The fate of the bill now lies with the House of Delegates, where it will face further debate and scrutiny. Critics warn that the bill may lead to legal challenges and further political disputes, creating uncertainty around the future of education policy in West Virginia.
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