Senate Panel Advances Teacher Pay Bill With Market‑Based Raises

Charleston, WV- A bill that would give teachers, school service personnel, and State Police a three‑percent pay raise is moving forward in the West Virginia Senate, but not without concerns from lawmakers whose counties would be left out of an added salary enhancement.
House Bill 4675, which passed the House unanimously, proposes a statewide three‑percent raise effective July 1, 2026. But a committee amendment adds a market‑based pay supplement that would boost salaries in counties with higher costs of living. The enhancement would be calculated using local and regional median income data compiled by the West Virginia Department of Education.
Only 25 counties would qualify for the additional raise. Counties that would not be eligible include Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Upshur, Webster, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming.
The committee approved the amended bill on a 10–4 vote, but not without pushback from lawmakers representing counties excluded from the enhancement.
Logan County Sen. Rupie Phillips said he supports the intent of the bill but cannot justify voting for a plan that leaves out most of his district.
“I’ve got schools shutting down in my county, 130 teachers got RIF letters last week,” Phillips said. “I really want to vote for the pay raise, but it’s hard when the bulk of my district is getting nothing.”
Wayne County Sen. Mark R. Maynard echoed those concerns, noting that three of the four counties he represents would not benefit from the market‑based increase.
“It would be hard for me to vote for this considering my district’s not going to get much out of it,” Maynard said.
HB 4675 is scheduled for second reading in the full Senate on Thursday. If the bill becomes law, the market‑based raises would not take effect until July 1, 2027.