House unanimously passes 3% pay raise for West Virginia teachers, state police

by Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
February 19, 2026

The House of Delegates unanimously voted yes on a bill Thursday that would give teachers, school personnel and state police in West Virginia a 3% pay raise effective later this year. 

The measure is a priority bill for Gov. Patrick Morrisey, and it will now head to the Senate for consideration. 

Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, said the salary increase would result in $1,800 more on average for teachers. Service personnel would see a $900 pay bump. House Bill 4765 lays out the pay grade information.  

“This is a significant increase. We are rewarding our people,” Riley said ahead of the vote.

Education West Virginia Co-President Dale Lee was glad to see the bill pass, saying, “I applaud the House for getting it moving.”

But, Lee noted the House and Senate have very different proposed budgets, which will need to include the funds for the proposed 3% raises. 

“There’s some cost saving money in the House budget that we could possibly increase by 3%,” Lee said. 

Kristie Skidmore, Lee’s fellow co-president of Education West Virginia, said there needs to be more than 3% for educators “in order to significantly address attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and service personnel for our public schools.”

“Teachers and service personnel did not receive any pay increase last year and they are really feeling the squeeze in their wallets, especially when combined with the steep (Public Employees Insurance Agency) increases that employees have shouldered,” Skidmore said. 

While House Democrats voted for the bill, House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, said it was “a wash” and didn’t go far enough due to the pending 3% PEIA rate increase that will impact teachers and state employees using the insurance program. 

“It is imperative that we do something and we do something today,” Hornbuckle said. “However, I also fear … that it is not near enough.”

Lonnie Faircloth, president of the West Virginia Troopers Association, previously told WSAZ that the proposed raise wouldn’t “offset the cost of the PEIA increase that we’re also going to get with our families and our troopers this year.”

Riley told House members that the 3% premium increase on the best PEIA plan would raise their cost by $176 on average.

“We do want to continue to pay more, but do not confuse 3% with 3%,” he said.

The proposed salary increase would take effect July 1 — the same month the PEIA rate hike is set to begin.

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