West Virginia HB5010: Prohibiting institutions of higher education and affiliate organizations from accepting gifts partnerships, or other funding relationships from foreign adversaries.

What the bill says

To amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18B-23-1, §18B-23-2, §18B-23-3, §18B-23-4, §18B-23-5, §18B-23-6, §18B-23-7, §18B-23-8, §18B-23-9, §18B-23-10, and §18B-23-11, all relating to prohibiting institutions of higher education and affiliate organizations from accepting gifts, grants, contracts, research sponsorships, partnerships, or other funding relationships from foreign adversaries; providing legislative findings; defining terms; establishing reporting and enforcement mechanisms; prohibiting Confucius Institutes and other adversary-.

From the introduced text, January 30, 2026:

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18B-23-1, §18B-23-2, §18B-23-3, §18B-23-4, §18B-23-5, §18B-23-6, §18B-23-7, §18B-23-8, §18B-23-9, §18B-23-10, and §18B-23-11, all relating to prohibiting institutions of higher education and affiliate organizations from accepting gifts, grants, contracts, research sponsorships, partnerships, or other funding relationships from foreign adversaries; providing legislative findings; defining terms; establishing reporting and enforcement mechanisms; prohibiting Confucius Institutes and other adversary-affiliated programs; authorizing additional adversary designations; and setting July 1, 2026, as the effective date. Article 23. Foreign Adversary Higher Education Funding Prohibition Act. §18B-23-1. Short Title. This article may be cited as the "Foreign Adversary Higher Education Funding Prohibition Act." §18B-23-2. Legislative Findings. The Legislature finds: (1) That institutions of higher education play a critical role in research, national competitiveness, and the development of future leaders. (2) That foreign governments and affiliated entities--particularly the People's Republic of China, in part via the Confucius Institute network, as well as Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Qatar--have systematically utilized partnerships, research sponsorships, media collaboration, funding mechanisms, and clandestine relationships to exert ideological influence or intelligence collection within American universities. (3) That Florida (2023) enacted legislation to restrict agreements and funding from countries of concern to higher education institutions, and Texas (2025) advanced legislation to prohibit acceptance of funding from governments of …