WEST virginia legislature

2025 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 3304

By Delegates McGeehan, Horst, Pinson, Stephens, Foggin, J. Cannon, and Holstein

[Introduced March 11, 2025; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §10-3-3, relating to the establishment of patriotic memorials to commemorate the Semiquincentennial Celebration of the United States; providing for a timeline of construction; and providing for the establishment of a commission.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3. MONUMENTS, TABLETS AND MEMORIALS.

§10-3-3. Patriotic memorials to commemorate Semiquincentennial Celebration of the United States; timeline of construction; commission.

(a) Legislative findings. – The Legislature acknowledges than 250 years of the existence of the United States is a momentous occasion. To mark this occasion, patriotic monuments should be erected in the northern, southern, eastern, and western parts of the state.

(b) Enactment. –

(1) Patriotic statues shall be erected in this state to acknowledge 250 years of the United States.

(2) These patriotic statues shall be erected in the northern, southern, eastern and western part of the state.

(3) The statues shall be patriotic in nature, and memorialize the country's birth, as well as West Virginia's state heritage.

(4) These patriotic statues shall be erected before the 2026 Semiquincentennial date.

(c) Commission. –

(1) A commission shall be established on July 1, 2025, to oversee construction of the patriotic statues. The commission shall be comprised of:

(A) The Curator of the Department of Arts, Culture, and History, who shall serve as chairperson;

(B) A member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and

(C) A member of the West Virginia Senate, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) A majority of the members of the commission must be present at a meeting to constitute a quorum, and a majority of those members present at a meeting must vote in the affirmative in order to pass a motion. A meeting may be called by the chair and at least five days written notice of the meeting must be provided to the members of the commission.

(3) The commission shall solicit bids for construction of the monument and shall adhere to all state purchasing and payment processing laws and regulations in paying its construction vendors, with a target completion date of the 2026 Semiquincentennial.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill relates to the establishment of patriotic memorials to commemorate the Semiquincentennial Celebration of the United States. The bill provides for a timeline of construction. Finally, the bill provides for the establishment of a commission.

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