West Virginia Bill 5502 defines race to include hair texture and protective hairstyles while permitting health and safety workplace regulations

Original title: Amending the Human Rights Act to allow regulation of traits associated with a person’s race only for nondiscriminatory purposes

Last action · February 13, 2026: To House Government OrganizationSponsors: Anitra Hamilton and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5502 amends the state Human Rights Act to explicitly define race as including traits historically associated with an individual's race, such as hair texture and . The measure allows employers to enforce workplace health and safety rules or s that impact these traits, provided the rules are non-discriminatory, specifically tailored, and necessary to prevent health or safety impairments.

Why it matters

Establishes state-level legal protections for race-associated physical traits like hairstyles while setting explicit statutory exemptions for employers enforcing workplace safety standards.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

West Virginia employees

Employees gain explicit statutory inclusion of hair texture and protective hairstyles under the definition of race, while remaining subject to non-discriminatory employer health and safety rules.

Directly affected

West Virginia employers

Employers must ensure workplace grooming or safety policies comply with the new definition of race unless specific health, safety, or bona fide occupational qualifications are met.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new definition does House Bill 5502 add to the law?

The bill adds a statutory definition for 'race' that includes traits historically associated with an individual's race, specifically mentioning hair texture and .

Can employers still enforce workplace safety or health rules under this bill?

Yes. The bill specifies that employers are not prohibited from enforcing valid workplace health and safety rules or s, provided they are non-discriminatory, necessary to prevent health or safety impairments, specifically tailored, and applied equally.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Government Organization
Feb 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
To Government Organization then Judiciary
Feb 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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