The Firearms Industry Nondiscrimination Act, recently passed in West Virginia, establishes protections against discrimination for firearm entities and trade associations in government contracts and financial services. The Act defines key terms, including "firearm," "financial institution," and "discriminate against a firearm entity," and prohibits financial institutions from refusing services based on an entity's involvement in lawful firearm commerce. It mandates that any contract between a governmental entity and a financial institution must not allow discrimination against firearm entities, and outlines the conditions under which contracts may be voided if violations occur.

Additionally, the Act provides civil remedies for individuals harmed by violations, allowing them to bring lawsuits against offending financial institutions. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce the law, including submitting names of violators to the Governor for potential termination of business relationships. The statute of limitations for such actions is set at two years, and exceptions are made for financial institutions with written policies against discrimination. Overall, the Act aims to ensure fair treatment of firearm-related businesses in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-12-9a
Committee Substitute: 5A-13-1, 5A-13-2, 5A-13-3, 5A-13-4, 5A-13-5, 5A-13-6
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 5A-13-1, 5A-13-2, 5A-13-3, 5A-13-4, 5A-13-5, 5A-13-6
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 5A-13-1, 5A-13-2, 5A-13-3, 5A-13-4, 5A-13-5, 5A-13-6