WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 880
By Senators Rucker, Azinger, and Willis
[Introduced February 9, 2026; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §2-4-1, §2-4-2, and §2-4-3, relating to creating the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act; and prohibiting state agencies from using the term "West Bank" in official government materials.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
It is the intent of the Legislature to:
(a) Refer to the land controlled by Israel from Jordan during the Six-Day War by its historical name of "Judea and Samaria", with the land south of Jerusalem being considered "Judea" and the land north of Jerusalem being considered "Samaria"; and no longer use the term "West Bank" in official government materials.
(b) Prohibit the use of materials that use the term "West Bank"
As used in this section:
"Official government material" means a guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, or communication prepared by a state agency; and
"State agency" means every department, division, office, board, commission, and institution of this state.
(a) Except as provided under subsection (c) of this section, a state agency shall not use the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and Samaria in an official government material.
(b) A state agency shall not use state moneys to create an official government material that refers to Judea and Samaria as "West Bank".
(c) The executive head of a state agency may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) of this section if the executive head:
(1) Determines that it is in the interests of the state to do so; and
(2) Submits a written explanation of the waiver no later than thirty days after the date on which the executive head of the state agency makes a determination under subdivision (c) of this section to the:
(A) Legislature if the Legislature is in session; or
(B) Governor if the Legislature is not in session.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act" and to prohibit state agencies from using the term "West Bank" in official government materials.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.