WEST virginia legislature
2024 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 496
By Senators Caputo, Woelfel, and Trump
[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; reported February 23, 2024]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-11-21, relating to clarifying that racial discrimination includes discrimination based on certain hair textures and hairstyles historically associated with a particular race; and defining term.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) For the purposes of this article, discrimination based on race includes, but is not limited to, discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with a particular race.
(b) The term "protective hairstyles" includes, but is not limited to, hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.