{"id":660430,"date":"2026-03-03T14:26:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T19:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wvmetronews.com\/?p=660430"},"modified":"2026-03-04T07:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T12:08:04","slug":"house-repeals-transfer-portal-while-senate-approves-cohen-craddock-safety-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wvmetronews.com\/2026\/03\/03\/house-repeals-transfer-portal-while-senate-approves-cohen-craddock-safety-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"House repeals “transfer portal” while Senate approves Cohen Craddock Safety bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHARLESTON, W.Va. <\/strong>— \u00a0The House of Delegates has passed a bill repealing the state code that created the controversial \u201ctransfer portal\u201d in high school athletics.<\/p>\n

HB4425<\/a> does not change the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission\u2019s current transfer policy but reverses a state law passed in 2023<\/a> that required the WVSSAC allow students a one-time transfer. The WVSSAC would still need to revise its policy if the legislation is completed, and has indicated it would revert to a similar rule that governed transfers prior to 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want a rule change with the WVSSAC, call your principals. Have your parents call your principals. The calls they are getting from the coaches are \u2018we don\u2019t like this,\u2019\u201d said Delegate Jeffery Stephens, R-Marshall.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Jeffrey Stephens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bill passed<\/a> with overwhelming support in the House despite a lengthy discussion on the repeal\u2019s impact on student-athletes. Supporters shared examples of how the transfer policy has had a detrimental impact on local athletic teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cSouth Charleston High School has been decimated by this transfer rule. We went from a perennial football powerhouse to winning one game in four seasons,\u201d said Delegate Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha.<\/p>\n

Delegate Betsy Kelly, R-Tyler, supported the repeal because the current policy has created what she described as an infinite loop of transfers; students transferring in to a school leading to students leaving for other playing opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe current law has created instability in our schools,\u201d said Kelly.<\/p>\n

Delegates opposed to the bill contended the law was necessary to protect students and give families the ability to choose the best educational and athletic path forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts homeschooled students, private school students, charter, micro school, even public school students who may have to leave for safety reasons. It does not protect competitive balance,\u201d said Delegate Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Kathie Hess Crouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crouse believed repealing the law and limiting transfers could leave students without options if they are in a precarious situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a punishment for children. This repeal takes away one safeguard students have when something goes wrong, and when I say wrong, I don\u2019t mean losing a season, I mean bullying, harassment, abuse,\u201d Crouse continued.<\/p>\n

Delegate Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, opposed the repeal, concerned that students could miss out on college athletic scholarship opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOftentimes, our student-athletes are able to move to a team that would allow them to excel and propel them into a free education, a $100,000 savings to our families. Maybe they even end up being a delegate one day,\u201d said Burkhammer.<\/p>\n

The bill now heads to the Senate.<\/p>\n

COHEN CRADDOCK SAFETY ACT<\/b><\/p>\n

The Senate approved<\/a> a sports safety bill named after a middle school football player who died<\/a> after a football-related head injury during a practice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB657<\/a>,\u00a0creating Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act was approved on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A similar bill was\u00a0considered last year\u00a0but was not passed into law. Last year\u2019s legislation would have required all youth football players in West Virginia to wear a soft-shell cover such as Guardian Caps on their helmets for organized practice.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s bill makes the use of those helmets permissive, so schools could opt in. The bill also calls for examination of concussion protocol, education and training to prevent concussions \u2014 the development of a Concussion Education Prevention and Response Plan.<\/p>\n

The bill also establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program to help with funding for football safety equipment that reduces concussions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Measures head to Senate and House with 10 days left in session. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":660436,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,12,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-660430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-high-school-sports","category-news","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nHouse repeals "transfer portal" while Senate approves Cohen Craddock Safety bill - WV MetroNews<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wvmetronews.com\/2026\/03\/03\/house-repeals-transfer-portal-while-senate-approves-cohen-craddock-safety-bill\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"House repeals "transfer portal" while Senate approves Cohen Craddock Safety bill - 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