WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4899

By Delegates Pinson and Burkhammer

[Introduced January 18, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend and reenact §18B-20-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the freedom of association and nondiscrimination against students and student organizations on campus.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 20. FREE EXPRESSION ON CAMPUS.

§18B-20-5. Freedom of association and nondiscrimination against students and student organizations.

A state institution of higher education may not deny a religious, political, or ideological student organization which is open to all students any benefit or privilege made available to any other student organization by the state institution of higher education, or otherwise discriminate against an organization, based on: (i) the expression of the organization; (ii) a requirement by the organization that the organization’s leaders or members (A) affirm and adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs; or (B) comply with the organization’s standards of conduct; or (C) further the organization’s mission or purpose.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide stronger language for the freedom of association and nondiscrimination against students and student organizations on campus.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.