West Virginia: Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

On Saturday, March 9th, the West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die from its 2019 Legislative Session.  While the legislature failed to pass House Bill 2519, the Campus Self-Defense Act, it did pass legislation to help ensure that Second Amendment rights remain equally protected across the state. 

Delegates Chris Phillips (R-47), Brandon Steel (R-29), and Geoff Foster (R-15) introduced a House Floor Amendment to Senate Bill 4 in order to prohibit municipalities participating in the Municipal Home Rule Program from adopting ordinances or regulations that violate Second Amendment rights.  The House of Delegates adopted the amendment by a vote of 72-22 and the Senate concurred unanimously on March 7th.

House Bill 2519, sponsored by Delegate Jim Butler (R-14), would have allowed law-abiding CHL holders to carry on the campus of a state institution of higher education.  Current state law does not prohibit carrying of a defensive firearm on campus, but institution policy could lead to expulsion or termination of employment.  Adults who are officially licensed to carry a firearm for self-defense off-campus should not be prevented from doing so just because they seek higher education.  House Bill 2519 previously passed the state House of Delegates by a vote of 59-41.  The state Senate Judiciary Committee failed to pass the bill to the state Senate floor.