West Virginia SB 255: Allowing students to participate in non-school competitive activities

Bill Text

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 255

By Senators Grady Deeds, and Helton

[Introduced February 12, 2025; referredto the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §18-2-25f, relating to allowing students to participate in non-school athletic activities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:



ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

§18-2-25f. Participation in non-school athletic activities.

The Legislature hereby finds that: 

(1) While participation in school sponsored extracurricular sports is a voluntary opportunity, no student-athlete should be deprived of additional opportunities to advance or showcase their skills purely because they are playing for a school sports team;

(2) Prohibiting a student-athlete from participating in non-school sponsored events or activities as a condition for participation on a school-sponsored team is unlawfully arbitrary and is not rationally related to a state purpose; and

(3) A county board of education and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission may not restrict nor prohibit a student from competing in non-school events or participating on non-school competitive teams as a condition of playing for a school extracurricular activity or sport.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow student-athletes to participate in competitive events and activities while playing for their school.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.