This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish that municipalities participating in the Municipal Home Rule Program are prohibited from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances that recognize additional protected classes beyond those specified in state law. Specifically, it introduces a new provision stating that any ordinance recognizing additional classes of persons entitled to protection, beyond those recognized by existing state statutes, is void and unenforceable. This change aims to standardize the definition of protected classes across municipalities and prevent local governments from expanding these protections independently.

Additionally, the bill reaffirms the structure and operational guidelines of the Municipal Home Rule Program, which allows municipalities to propose and implement local ordinances while adhering to state laws. It maintains the requirement for municipalities to submit written plans detailing their proposed changes and the challenges they face, while also ensuring that any amendments to existing ordinances comply with the approved plans. The bill emphasizes the importance of public hearings and transparency in the process of adopting new regulations, thereby reinforcing the accountability of local governments within the framework of the Municipal Home Rule Program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-1-5a