Charleston, West Virginia (WCHS) — As the clock ticked down on the 2025 legislative session, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed dozens of bills, pushed them to committees, or rejected them.
Among those who made the cut, delegates addressed some of the issues that have made headlines and become major topics both in the state and across the country. This includes passing Senate Bill 154, which prohibits public schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity.
“It prohibits a public school and county board employees assigned to a school from knowingly giving false or misleading information to the parent custodian or guardian of a student regarding the student’s gender identity or intention to transition to a gender that is different than the student’s biological sex,” Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez explained.
Twenty-one states have passed legislation to restrict the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
“The bill requires teachers not to teach sexual orientation or gender identity, which they already do not do. There is a section added about students’ preferred pronouns and gender identity. Del. Kayla Young expressed concern that the language could undermine the trust of students in their teachers.
Del. Young stated that this is an example of legislation that creates problems rather than solving them.
“I don’t consider this a problem. It’s a solution in search of a problem, and it’s just another red meat bill that we keep seeing in the legislature when we could be focusing on things that actually help people,” she explained.
Throughout the session, lawmakers from both chambers were chastised for debating bills of little or no significance. Leaving larger bills to be voted on at the last minute or die at the end of the session.
“It’s a completely worthless bill that addresses none of the state’s issues. There’s no need for it, and I believe we shouldn’t base our bills on what some right-wing media outlet tells us to be afraid of on any given day,” said Del. Mike Pushkin.
Saturday marks the final day of the 2025 legislative session. The House will begin voting at 9 a.m.
