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Senate passes bill limiting municipal anti‑discrimination ordinances after heated debate
Summary
The West Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 579 on third reading, preventing municipalities from adding protected classes beyond state law. Debate ranged from arguments for statewide uniformity to appeals for local control; final vote 35-8-1.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate on March 21 passed Senate Bill 579, a measure that prohibits municipalities that participate in the state's home rule program from establishing protected classes beyond those listed in state law, following more than two hours of debate and public examples cited by senators.
The bill's sponsor, identified in the record as the junior senator from the seventh, urged adoption and framed the measure as a way to preserve a consistent statewide framework for anti-discrimination law. "This bill protects parents' rights and medical professionals across our state," the sponsor said during final remarks, adding, "I urge adoption of this bill." (Junior senator from seventh, 5288.625)
Supporters said uniformity prevents legal confusion and protects what they described as parental and women's privacy rights. "A uniform set across our state allows for a more efficient and consistent enforcement through dedicated agencies like the Human Rights…
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