Bill
HB 5607
The bill expands Promise Scholarship funds for STEM majors, providing higher awards to STEM students to boost persistence and meet WV workforce needs.
HB 5607 (Session 2026, West Virginia) – Expanding Promise Scholarship funds for STEM majors
Overview
- Purpose: To increase the amount of Promise Scholarship funds awarded to students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
- Policy aim: Enhance financial support for STEM students to encourage persistence in these fields and address workforce needs in science and engineering sectors.
Key Provisions (what the bill would change)
- Expansion of Promise Scholarship awards:
- Increase the annual or total Promise Scholarship awards specifically for students who are pursuing STEM majors.
- The bill sets forth higher funding levels for STEM recipients than for students in non-STEM fields within the Promise Scholarship program.
- Targeted eligibility and bona fides:
- Preserves existing Promise Scholarship eligibility criteria (as applicable to West Virginia Promise Scholarships in general) but ties the enhanced awards to students enrolled in approved STEM programs.
- May include requirements related to maintaining satisfactory academic progress, enrollment in a qualifying STEM major, and continued residency or in-state status (consistent with Promise Scholarship norms).
- Allocation and funding mechanism:
- Specifies how the increased funds are to be allocated within the state budget, potential sources of funding, and any adjustments to annual appropriations for the Promise Scholarship program.
- Sunset or review provisions (possible):
- The bill could include a review mechanism or sunset date to evaluate the impact of increased STEM awards, though exact language would need to be reviewed in the final text.
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: College-bound or currently enrolled students in West Virginia who declare and pursue STEM majors and qualify for the Promise Scholarship.
- Institutions: Public colleges and universities in West Virginia that administer Promise Scholarship funds.
- State budgetary impact: Increased state funding directed to the Promise Scholarship program with a STEM emphasis; potential impact on overall financial aid spending and appropriations.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduction and sponsorship:
- Introduced in February 2026.
- Primary sponsors and co-sponsors include multiple representatives (noted in the bill’s sponsor list).
- Early committee routing: Education, then Finance (as indicated by the action history).
- Legislative process steps to watch:
- Committee referrals (Education, Finance) for hearings and amendments.
- Potential floor votes in the House and subsequent action in the Senate (not detailed in the provided text).
- Implementation timeline would depend on the enacted appropriation and any administrative rules or college eligibility waivers.
Notes and considerations
- The bill’s intent is to expand access to enhanced financial aid specifically for STEM disciplines, aligning scholarship incentives with workforce development goals.
- Readers should refer to the final bill text for exact dollar amounts, cap limits, duration of the enhanced awards, and any accompanying provisions (e.g., renewal requirements, income thresholds, or performance metrics).
If you’d like, I can integrate the bill’s exact fiscal figures and operational details once the final text is available, or draft a one-page briefing for constituents.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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