WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5339

By Delegate Dillon

[Introduced February 09, 2026; referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §18A-2A-2, relating to prohibiting retaliation toward school employees for opinions expressed on social media.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2A. teachers bill of rights.

§18A-2A-2. Prohibition of retaliation toward school employees for opinions expressed on social media.

No public school district nor supervisor shall take adverse action against a public school employee for expressing opinions on social media or otherwise in public.  Allegations of slander or libel against an employee shall not be addressed by disciplinary or job action.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit retaliation toward school employees for opinions expressed on social media.

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