The proposed Restoring Sanity Act aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing new regulations that prohibit educational institutions from teaching or requiring affirmation of concepts suggesting any race, ethnic group, or biological sex is superior or inferior to another. It establishes procedures for complaints and appeals regarding alleged violations, allowing students, parents, and employees to report grievances. Additionally, the bill clarifies that educators are not obligated to use a student's preferred pronoun if it does not correspond with their biological sex, providing them protection from civil liability in such instances. The legislation also prohibits state institutions of higher education from creating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, while requiring compliance reports to the Joint Committee on Education and reallocating funds from diversity initiatives to merit scholarships or tuition reductions.

The Anti-Racism Act of 2025 complements the Restoring Sanity Act by defining key terms such as "biological sex," "ethnic group," and "race," and mandates that state institutions of higher education prohibit discrimination based on these categories. It emphasizes the protection of free speech, stating that universities cannot suppress discussions of controversial ideas, even if they are offensive to some. The bill further prohibits institutions from requiring students or employees to affirm concepts related to race, ethnicity, or biological sex that promote superiority or inferiority, and it mandates neutrality on contested social issues. Overall, both pieces of legislation seek to limit the influence of certain ideologies in education while fostering a neutral environment for discourse.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-9b, 18-5-29, 18B-1G-1, 18B-1G-2, 18B-1G-3, 18B-1G-4, 18B-1G-5, 18B-14-5, 18B-14-6