House Bill 3319, also referred to as the Restoring Sanity Act, aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by prohibiting state institutions of higher education and related entities from requiring instruction or affirmations regarding certain concepts related to race, ethnicity, and biological sex. The bill specifically targets the teaching of ideas that imply superiority or inferiority based on these characteristics, as well as concepts that may induce guilt or discomfort in individuals based on their race or sex. It also mandates that any unspent funds from diversity, equity, and inclusion offices be redirected towards merit scholarships for lower-income and first-generation college students or to reduce tuition for resident students.

Additionally, the legislation establishes a policy of neutrality regarding contested opinions on topics such as unconscious bias, social justice, and critical race theory, explicitly prohibiting the establishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. It requires that no diversity statements be solicited during admissions or hiring processes and emphasizes the importance of free speech and expression within educational settings. Discussions on these topics are permitted as long as they include alternative viewpoints. Overall, House Bill 3319 seeks to reshape educational policies in West Virginia by limiting the scope of discussions around race and gender in schools and higher education institutions.

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