West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5502: Amending the Human Rights Act to allow regulation of traits associated with a person’s race only for nondiscriminatory purposes
Status: Introduced, February 13, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §16B-17-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1933, as amended, relating to providing a definition of "race" under the Human Rights Act to allow for regulation of traits historically associated with the individual's race as long as done to preserve work place health and safety. ARTICLE 17. human rights commission. §16B-17-3. Definitions. When used in this (b) The term "commission" means the West Virginia Human Rights Commission; (c) The term "director" means the executive director of the commission who reports to the Inspector General; (d) The term "employer" means the st.
From the introduced text, February 13, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §16B-17-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1933, as amended, relating to providing a definition of "race" under the Human Rights Act to allow for regulation of traits historically associated with the individual's race as long as done to preserve work place health and safety. ARTICLE 17. human rights commission. §16B-17-3. Definitions. When used in this (b) The term "commission" means the West Virginia Human Rights Commission; (c) The term "director" means the executive director of the commission who reports to the Inspector General; (d) The term "employer" means the state, or any political subdivision thereof, and any person employing 12 or more persons within the state for 20 or more calendar weeks in the calendar year in which the act of discrimination allegedly took place or the preceding calendar (e) The term "employee" shall not include any individual employed by his or her parents, spouse or child; (f) The term "labor organization" includes any organization which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment or for other mutual aid or protection in relation to employment; (g) The term "employment agency" includes any person undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure, recruit, refer or place employees. A newspaper …