West Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted 6 R cosponsors

SB 280 — Allowing teachers in public schools to discuss scientific theories

Last action — Chapter 103, Acts, Regular Session, 2024

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 11, 2024. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 66% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    3 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 4 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Senate Bill 280 changed the title of the bill to clarify that it allows public school teachers to answer student questions about scientific theories regarding the origins of the universe and life. This is significant because it establishes explicit protections for teachers, ensuring they are not hindered by school administrators from engaging with students on these topics. The change aims to promote open discussion in classrooms, fostering a better understanding of scientific theories among students.

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Latest
SB280 H JUD AM #1WRV 3133 The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the committee substitute on page 1, after the enacting clause, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
SB280 HFAT Fast 3-7WRV 3133 Delegate Fast moved to amend the committee substitute by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:“A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-41a, relating to allowing a public school classroom teacher to respond to student inquiries or answer student questions about scientific theories of how the universe and/or life came to exist.”   AdoptedRejected 
“ARTICLE 5.
COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-5-41a.
Allowing discussion of certain scientific theories.
No public school board, school superintendent, or school principal may prohibit a public school classroom teacher from responding to student inquiries or answering questions from students about scientific theories of how the universe and/or life came to exist.”    AdoptedRejected
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Action History

  1. Chapter 103, Acts, Regular Session, 2024

  2. Approved by Governor 3/22/2024

  3. To Governor 3/14/2024

  4. Approved by Governor 3/22/2024 - House Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 3/22/2024 - Senate Journal

  6. To Governor 3/14/2024 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 3/14/2024 - Senate Journal

  8. House received Senate message

  9. Completed legislative action

  10. Communicated to House

  11. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 526)

  12. House Message received

  13. Communicated to Senate

  14. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  15. Passed House (Roll No. 743)

  16. Move the previous question adopted (Roll No. 742)

  17. Read 3rd time

  18. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  19. Read 2nd time

  20. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  21. Amendment rejected (Roll No. 605)

  22. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  23. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  24. Read 2nd time

  25. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  26. Read 1st time

  27. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  28. With amendment, do pass

  29. To House Judiciary

  30. With amendment, do pass, but first to Judiciary

  31. To House Education

  32. To Education then Judiciary

  33. Introduced in House

  34. Ordered to House

  35. Passed Senate (Roll No. 49)

  36. Read 3rd time

  37. On 3rd reading

  38. Read 2nd time

  39. On 2nd reading

  40. Read 1st time

  41. On 1st reading

  42. Committee substitute reported

  43. To Education

  44. Introduced in Senate

  45. To Education

  46. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on · 67 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 144 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 89 Yea · 9 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 64002
Unaffiliated 24200
Democrat 1700
Total 89902
% of votes cast 89%9%0%2%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kirby — Yea
Kump — Yea
Ross — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Linville — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Foster — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Smith — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Martin — Yea
Steele — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Summers — Yea
Nestor — Yea
Tully — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Devault — Yea
Householder — Yea
Warner — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Fast — Yea
Winzenreid — Nay
Hamilton — Nay
Evan Hansen Democrat Nay
Hollis Lewis Democrat Nay
Joey Garcia Democrat Nay
John Williams Democrat Nay
Kayla Young Democrat Nay
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Nay
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Nay
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Not Voting
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PREVIOUS QUESTION

Passed 77 Yea · 20 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 57702
Unaffiliated 20501
Democrat 0800
Total 772003
% of votes cast 77%20%0%3%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Espinosa — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Fast — Yea
Kirby — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Kump — Yea
Ross — Yea
Foster — Yea
Linville — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Smith — Yea
Steele — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Martin — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Devault — Yea
Nestor — Yea
Winzenreid — Yea
Householder — Yea
Tully — Nay
Rowe — Nay
Griffith — Nay
Hamilton — Nay
Summers — Nay
Warner — Not Voting
Evan Hansen Democrat Nay
Hollis Lewis Democrat Nay
Joey Garcia Democrat Nay
John Williams Democrat Nay
Kayla Young Democrat Nay
Mike Pushkin Democrat Nay
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Nay
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Nay
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Nay
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Nay
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Nay
Gary G. Howell Republican Nay
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Nay
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Nay
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Not Voting
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Nay

Official roll call →

HFA YOUNG 3-7 #2

Failed 18 Yea · 78 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 55902
Democrat 8000
Unaffiliated 51902
Total 187804
% of votes cast 18%78%0%4%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Summers — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Kirby — Yea
Hamilton — Yea
Espinosa — Nay
Fast — Nay
Linville — Nay
Ross — Nay
Longanacre — Nay
Forsht — Nay
Foster — Nay
Smith — Nay
Martin — Nay
Hardy — Nay
Tully — Nay
Nestor — Nay
Warner — Nay
Westfall — Nay
Phillips — Nay
Householder — Nay
Winzenreid — Nay
Devault — Nay
Jeffries — Nay
Kump — Not Voting
Steele — Not Voting
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Nay
Adam Vance Republican Nay
Andy Shamblin Republican Nay
Betsy Kelly Republican Nay
Bill Ridenour Republican Nay
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Nay
Bryan Ward Republican Nay
Charles Sheedy Republican Nay
Christopher W. Toney Republican Nay
Chuck Horst Republican Nay
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Nay
Dana Ferrell Republican Nay
Darren Thorne Republican Nay
Dave Foggin Republican Not Voting
David Green Republican Nay
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Nay
Eric Brooks Republican Nay
Erica Moore Republican Nay
Evan Worrell Republican Nay
Gary G. Howell Republican Nay
Geno Chiarelli Republican Nay
George Miller Republican Nay
George Street Republican Nay
Henry Dillon Republican Nay
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Nay
Jarred Cannon Republican Nay
Jeff Campbell Republican Nay
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Nay
Jimmy Willis Republican Nay
Joe Ellington Republican Nay
Joe Statler Republican Nay
John Paul Hott Republican Nay
Jonathan Pinson Republican Nay
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Nay
Josh Holstein Republican Nay
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Nay
Keith Marple Republican Nay
Laura Kimble Republican Nay
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Nay
Mark Dean Republican Nay
Mark Zatezalo Republican Nay
Marty Gearheart Republican Nay
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Nay
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Nay
Mickey Petitto Republican Nay
Pat McGeehan Republican Nay
Patrick Lucas Republican Nay
Phil Mallow Republican Nay
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Nay
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Nay
Scot C. Heckert Republican Nay
Stanley Adkins Republican Nay
Trenton Barnhart Republican Nay
Vacant1 Republican Nay
Vacant1 Republican Nay
Vernon Criss Republican Nay
Walter Hall Republican Nay
Wayne Clark Republican Nay
Wayne Clark Republican Nay
William Anderson Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 31 Yea · 2 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 16000
Unaffiliated 15101
Democrat 0100
Total 31201
% of votes cast 91%6%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MARONEY — Yea
STOVER — Yea
MARTIN — Yea
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
SWOPE — Yea
CAPUTO — Nay
NELSON — Yea
PHILLIPS — Yea
PLYMALE — Not Voting
TRUMP — Yea
HAMILTON — Yea
HUNT — Yea
JEFFRIES — Yea
SMITH — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
KARNES — Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Nay
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 280?
SB 280 is sponsored by Mike Azinger (Republican), Eric Tarr (Republican), Vince Deeds (Republican), Phillips, Rollan A. Roberts (Republican), Jay Taylor (Republican), Stuart, and Amy Grady (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 280?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 11, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 280?
Track SB 280 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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