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]
 Enr CS for SB 503
1 AN ACT to amend and reenact §18B-20-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
2 relating to prohibiting state institutions of higher education from discriminating against
3 student organizations which limit membership to those persons who adhere to the
4 organization’s sincerely held beliefs, comply with the organization’s standards of conduct,
5 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.
1 A state institution of higher education may not deny a religious, political, or ideological
2 student organization any benefit or privilege generally available to other student organizations, or
3 otherwise discriminate against the organization based on a requirement of the organization that its
4 leaders and members:
5 (1) Affirm and adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs;
6 (2) Comply with the organization’s standards of conduct; and
7 (3) Further the organization’s mission, expression, or purpose.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-20-5
Committee Substitute: 18B-20-5
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18B-20-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18B-20-5