WV Monument and Memorial Protection Act of 2025

SB 71, the "West Virginia Monument and Memorial Protection Act of 2025," prohibits the removal, renaming, alteration, or relocation of monuments, memorials, plaques, schools, streets, bridges, or parks on public property that honor specific historical events or groups. It protects items dedicated to West Virginia’s military history, labor movements (including mining), African-American and women’s civil rights struggles, and Native American history. The law also prevents interference with maintenance efforts for these protected sites, requiring restoration within 30 days if disturbed. Exceptions apply to transportation infrastructure under the Department of Transportation, which must preserve such items "to the greatest extent possible."