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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Housing and Employment
Last action · February 18, 2026: To JudiciarySponsors: Joey Garcia and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 987 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, public accommodations, and housing by adding these categories to the West Virginia Human Rights Act and Fair Housing Act. The measure defines both terms and establishes civil remedies and enforcement mechanisms through the Human Rights Commission and the Attorney General.
Expands legal protections for residents by making discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and familial status unlawful in hiring, public spaces, property sales, and rentals, exposing violators to civil penalties and administrative orders.
- The West Virginia Human Rights Act and Fair Housing Act govern state-level protections against unlawful discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing. context
- Senate Bill 987 was introduced during the 2026 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. context
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.
Employers
Employers with 12 or more employees must comply with expanded nondiscrimination rules regarding hiring, compensation, and terms of employment.
Landlords and Real Estate Entities
Property owners, brokers, and financial institutions are prohibited from discriminating in housing sales, rentals, or real estate transactions based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
West Virginia Human Rights Commission
The commission is authorized to receive, investigate, and hold hearings on complaints alleging discrimination based on the newly added protected categories.
Key Facts
- Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and age to categories covered by the West Virginia Human Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination in employment and places of public accommodation.
- Adds sexual orientation and gender identity to categories covered by the West Virginia Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.
- Defines "gender identity" as an individual's actual or perceived gender-related identity, expression, appearance, mannerisms, or characteristics regardless of designated sex at birth.
- Defines "sexual orientation" to include heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression, whether actual or perceived.
Show all 8 facts
- Empowers the Attorney General to bring civil actions for injunctive relief or civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation for interference with rights secured under the act.
- Establishes misdemeanor penalties of a fine up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both for knowingly violating a preliminary, temporary, or permanent injunction.
- Applies employer nondiscrimination provisions to employers with 12 or more employees within the state.
- Permits individuals with disabilities to keep assistance animals in housing accommodations under reasonable accommodation rules, subject to documentation requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new protections does Senate Bill 987 introduce?
What penalties can violators face under this legislation?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 18, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Feb 18, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 18, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled 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.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Protected Classes
The bill updates foundational civil rights statutes from 1931 to explicitly incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity across housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy90Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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