Senate approves $1.5 million to create Washington Center for Civics at WVU after heated debate

The West Virginia Senate passed House Bill 3,297 on April 10, 2025, creating the Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship at West Virginia University and providing an initial appropriation of $1,500,000. The vote was 25 in favor and 9 opposed.

Supporters said the center will promote study and teaching of Western political thought and American constitutional history and will be housed at West Virginia University. Senator from the sixteenth, the bill sponsor, described the center’s mission and said the institution would house tenure-track faculty and a director, and work with university governance and the accrediting entity on curriculum and degree development.

Opponents criticized the measure as an unnecessary expansion of government-funded programs and said the bill lacks financial detail and accountability. A long floor statement by the junior senator from 7 warned the bill could grow beyond its $1.5 million initial appropriation, questioned mandatory tenure-track positions and the director’s contract, and argued the proposal duplicates existing courses at WVU.

The bill as passed incorporates the finance committee strike-and-insert amendment adopted on the floor and two subsequent amendments that the Senate approved: an amendment that prevents any member currently serving in the Legislature, or within two years after leaving the Legislature, from being employed by the center in any capacity or serving as its director; and an amendment adding an advice-and-consent requirement for a gubernatorial appointment included in the bill’s membership provisions.

Floor debate included arguments that the center would enhance civic education and that its requirements are structured to protect accreditation and align curriculum with university standards. Critics said the bill mandates new tenured positions and risks long-term budget growth; they urged improving existing university programs instead.

The Senate adopted a title amendment and sent the bill to the House. The clerk recorded the final roll call as 25 yeas and 9 nays. The clerk then communicated the Senate’s action to the House.

The measure describes the center’s purpose, requires the university to provide reasonable infrastructure and classroom and office space, authorizes tenure-track faculty housed within the center and directs the center’s director to coordinate with the provost and university on curriculum and degree development to be approved by the board of governors and the accrediting entity. Funding beyond the $1.5 million appropriation and the center’s ongoing budget are not specified in the bill text on the Senate floor.

Moving forward, the bill will return to the House for any concurrence with Senate amendments. The Senate recorded that the bill passed by a recorded vote of 25-9.