SB 880 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Recognizing Judea and Samaria

SB 880, titled "Recognizing Judea and Samaria," requires West Virginia state agencies to replace the term "West Bank" with "Judea and Samaria" in all official government materials, including rules, press releases, and communications. The bill defines "official government material" broadly and prohibits using state funds to create such materials referencing the territory as the "West Bank." It allows limited waivers for agency heads who provide written justification to the Legislature or Governor. This is a procedural naming change affecting only state communications, not land policy or citizen rights.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 9 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a committee substitute version, significantly expanding its scope and adding new provisions. The original version focused only on prohibiting the use of 'West Bank' terminology, while the substitute version adds a comprehensive boycott provision prohibiting state contracts with companies that boycott Israel. The bill also expanded the sponsoring legislators and changed the legislative findings to include broader policy justifications.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a simple terminology prohibition to include a comprehensive boycott provision that prohibits state agencies from contracting with companies engaged in boycotts of Israel, while maintaining the original prohibition on using 'West Bank' terminology.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection requiring state contracts of $100,000 or more to include certification that the company is not engaged in boycotting Israel

Added authority for Director of Purchasing Division to promulgate legislative rules to implement the section

Changed waiver notification recipients from Legislature/Governor to Speaker of House and President of Senate when Legislature is in session

Added explicit statement that the bill does not affect United States foreign policy

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Boycott of Israel', 'Company', 'Public entity', and 'Judea' and 'Samaria' with specific geographic boundaries

ENFORCEMENT

Added provision stating contracts violating the boycott prohibition are void as against public policy

ELIGIBILITY

Added finding that Israel is a close ally and trading partner, and that boycotts spread anti-Semitism

TECHNICAL

Changed bill title from 'Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act' to include the new boycott provision language

Added seven new co-sponsors to the bill: Bartlett, Taylor, Rose, and Deeds

Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

31–2

Passed

Total votes 33

Feb 25, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Nay

100% Nay

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

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 228)

upper

Feb 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors