SB 54 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requiring age-appropriate instruction on Holocaust in public schools

SB 54 requires all West Virginia public schools to provide age-appropriate Holocaust education starting in the sixth grade. The bill mandates instruction on the systematic annihilation of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, as a "watershed event in human history," using guidance from the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education. Schools must teach this topic in a way that examines human behavior and promotes responsible, respectful citizenship. The instruction cannot be provided before sixth grade, applying directly to all public schools within the state.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Committee Substitute → sb54 sfa woodrum _1 3-25 adopted.htm · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text was updated to reflect a procedural amendment where Senators Woodrum and Oliverio moved to modify the language regarding Holocaust education. The change adds a specific requirement that the instruction must be delivered 'In collaboration with and utilizing guidance from the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education,' ensuring the curriculum aligns with official state guidance rather than being developed independently by schools.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's requirements was expanded to mandate collaboration with a specific state commission, shifting the implementation framework from a general mandate to one requiring official guidance.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement for public schools to collaborate with and utilize guidance from the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education when providing Holocaust instruction.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 26, 2025

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Mar 26, 2025

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

To House Education

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

To Education

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 177)

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

To Education

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors