WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Enrolled

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 503

By Senators Grady, Taylor, Maynard, Roberts, Deeds, Azinger, and Rucker

[Passed March 8, 2024; in effect 90 days from passage]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §18B-20-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting state institutions of higher education from discriminating against student organizations which limit membership to those persons who adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs, comply with the organization’s standards of conduct, and further the organization’s mission, expression, or purpose.

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 any benefit or privilege generally available to other student organizations, or otherwise discriminate against the organization based on a requirement of the organization that its leaders and members:

(1) Affirm and adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs;

(2) Comply with the organization’s standards of conduct; and

(3) Further the organization’s mission, expression, or purpose.