Read the full stored bill text
HB 4705 Text
skip navigation
SENATE
PRESIDENT
SENATORS
COMMITTEES
VIDEO/AUDIO
DISTRICT MAPS
SENATE CLERK
SENATE RULES
HOUSE
SPEAKER
DELEGATES
COMMITTEES
VIDEO/AUDIO
DISTRICT MAPS
HOUSE CLERK
HOUSE RULES
HOUSE STAFF
JOINT
INTERIM COMMITTEES
LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
PUBLIC INFORMATION
LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION
LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION
POST AUDIT DIVISION
BUDGET DIVISION
REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
CLAIMS COMMISSION
CRIME VICTIMS
RULE-MAKING REVIEW
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS
JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION
JOINT RULES
STAFF INFO
BILL STATUS
BILL STATUS
BILL TRACKING
STATE LAW
WEST VIRGINIA CODE
ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE
CODE OF 1931
WV CONSTITUTION
US CONSTITUTION
REPORTS
AGENCY REPORTS
AGENCY GRANT AWARDS
PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS
POST AUDITS
EDUCATIONAL
CITIZEN’S GUIDE
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
PAGE PROGRAM
PUBLICATIONS
PHOTO GALLERY
CAPITOL HISTORY
HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
CONTACT
SENATE ROSTER
HOUSE ROSTER
PUBLIC INFO.
NEWS RELEASES
HELPFUL LINKS
Introduced Version
House Bill 4705 History
|
Email
Key:
Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4705
By Delegates Chiarelli and Holstein
[Introduced; referred to
the Committee on]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §18-2-47, relating to requiring a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day; providing legislative findings; forbidding teachers from making suggestions as to the nature of the reflection that students may engage in during the moment of silence; and encouraging parents to discuss with their children what they should consider during the moment of silence.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-2-47. Requiring a moment of silence.
(a) The West Virginia Legislature finds that in today’s hectic society that too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life. Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The West Virginia Legislature finds that our youth, and society as a whole, would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.
(b) The principal of each public school shall require teachers at the beginning of the day in all grades to set aside at least one minute, but not more than two minutes, daily, for a moment of silence, during which students may not interfere with other students’ participation. A teacher may not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence.
(c) Each classroom teacher shall encourage parents or guardians to discuss the moment of silence with their children and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. The bill prevents teachers from being able to discuss the substance of what children engage in during the moment of silence. Finally, the bill encourages parents to discuss with their children the substance of their use of time during the moment of silence.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
Bill Status
|
Bill Tracking
|
Legacy WV Code
|
Bulletin Board
|
District Maps
|
Senate Roster
|
House Roster
|
Live
|
Blog
|
Jobs
|
Links
|
Home
This Web site is maintained by the
West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.
|
Terms of Use
|
Webmaster
| © 2026 West Virginia Legislature **
Print On Demand
Name:
Email:
Phone: