# West Virginia SB 402: Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act West Virginia SB 402, Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Randy E. Smith (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-06-25 (Chapter 293, Acts, Regular Session, 2026) (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB402-2026rs - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: West Virginia SB 402 - State: West Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-15 - Last action: 2026-06-25, Chapter 293, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 - Sponsor: Randy E. Smith (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: §18B-3D-8 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (163 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Employer-aligned credentials, focus on trades: benefit, medium. The commission works with Commerce, Education, charter schools, community and technical colleges, higher education, and employers to build job-ready credentials. It must keep talking with employers so content matches local and regional job needs. The law prioritizes credentials for construction, ma… - More help for colleges, track results: benefit, medium. The program helps public colleges build and run micro-credential offerings and student supports. The commission can hire outside experts to design strong programs. It must verify completions and track whether credentials raise job placement and earnings. The commission can set rules under state adm… - Secure, portable education and skill records: benefit, medium. The program sets rules for how micro-credentials are designed and verified. It sets technology standards for creating, keeping, and sharing credentials. Approved entities store your records securely, and you control who can see them. Records can include micro-credentials, degrees, licenses, certifi… - State micro-credentials for students and workers: benefit, medium. The law creates a statewide micro-credential program inside the Higher Education Policy Commission. The Chancellor runs the program and sets standards for which skills count and how people prove mastery. Credentials can be earned online, with AI tools, hands-on, or on the job. The law takes effect… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Randy E. Smith (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike Woelfel (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | Senate | Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 656) | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-03-11 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 389) | pass | 95 | 0 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed Senate (Roll No. 209) | pass | 34 | 0 | | ## Actions (41) - 2026-06-25: Chapter 293, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-18: To Governor 3/18/2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-14: House Message received (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 656) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Communicated to House (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Completed legislative action (Senate) - 2026-03-14: To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal (House) - 2026-03-11: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-03-11: Read 3rd time (House) - 2026-03-11: Passed House (Roll No. 389) (House) - 2026-03-11: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House) - 2026-03-11: Communicated to Senate (House) - 2026-03-10: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-03-10: Read 2nd time (House) - 2026-03-10: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House) - 2026-03-10: Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House) - 2026-03-09: With amendment, do pass (House) - 2026-03-09: Immediate consideration (House) - 2026-03-09: Read 1st time (House) - 2026-02-25: House received Senate message (House) - 2026-02-25: Introduced in House (House) - 2026-02-25: To Finance (House) - 2026-02-25: To House Finance (House) - 2026-02-24: On 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Passed Senate (Roll No. 209) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Ordered to House (Senate) - 2026-02-23: On 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2026-02-21: On 1st reading (Senate) - 2026-02-21: Read 1st time (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Com. sub. for com. sub. reported (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-28: To Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-15: Filed for introduction (Senate) - 2026-01-15: To Workforce then Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-15: Introduced in Senate (Senate) - 2026-01-15: To Workforce (Senate) ## Bill text - Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2.pdf) - Enrolled: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2 enr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2 enr.pdf) - Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 intr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 5694: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313. (signed) - HB 5353: To bring virtual currency kiosks within the purview of money transmission licensure and create disclosure requirements and daily transaction limitations for ne… (signed) - HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed) - HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed) - HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed) - HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law) ## Sources - [Committee Substitute (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2.htm) - [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2.pdf) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2 enr.htm) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 sub2 enr.pdf) - [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 intr.htm) - [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb402 intr.pdf) ## Related - [HB 5694: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5694-2026rs) - [HB 5353: To bring virtual currency kiosks within the purview of money transmission licen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5353-2026rs) - [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs) - [HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to tha…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4390-2026rs) - [HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs) - [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs) - [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills) - [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB402-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).