The proposed bill seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia by eliminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, trainings, activities, offices, and officers within the executive branch, primary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. It introduces the "Equal Treatment By Executive Branch Act of 2025," which mandates that state departments and agencies treat individuals equally in recruitment, hiring, promotion, and training, without regard to race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. The bill explicitly prohibits the establishment of DEI offices and the hiring of DEI officers, as well as any requirement for employees to participate in DEI training.

Additionally, the bill imposes restrictions on educational institutions, preventing them from teaching concepts that imply superiority based on race or sex, while allowing for academic discussions of these topics if alternative theories are included. It also states that employees are not required to use a student's preferred pronoun if it does not align with the student's biological sex. Institutions are mandated to protect free speech rights, report compliance efforts annually, and redirect unspent DEI funds towards merit scholarships or tuition reductions. Overall, the legislation promotes a uniform approach to equality and a commitment to colorblind and sex-neutral hiring and admissions processes, eliminating the need for diversity statements in public institutions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-33-1, 5-33-2, 5-33-3, 18B-1G-1, 18B-1G-2, 18B-1G-3, 18B-1G-4, 18B-1G-5, 18-2-9b, 18-5-29, 18B-14-5, 18B-14-6