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SB502 • 2026
Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: SB502 HFA Lewis 3-12 Altizer 3259 Delegate Lewis moves to amend CS for CS for SB502 on page 2, Section 3, lines 3 and 4, by striking out the words "classified as an NCAA Division I institution" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "that have women's collegiate sports".
Plain English: SB502 HFA Lewis 3-12 Altizer 3259 Delegate Lewis moves to amend CS for CS for SB502 on page 2, Section 3, lines 3 and 4, by striking out the words "classified as an NCAA Division I institution" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "that have women's collegiate sports".
Chapter 170, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026
To Governor 3/18/2026
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal
To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate Journal
Completed legislative action
Communicated to House
Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 665)
Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 664)
House Message received
Communicated to Senate
Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 533)
Passed House (Roll No. 532)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
Amendment reported by the Clerk
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
Read 1st time
Immediate consideration
2nd reference dispensed
Do pass, but first to Finance
Markup Discussion
To House Education
To Education then Finance
Introduced in House
House received Senate message
Ordered to House
Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 293)
Passed Senate (Roll No. 292)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading
Read 1st time
On 1st reading
Com. sub. for com. sub. reported
To Finance
Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance
To Education
Introduced in Senate
To Education then Finance
Filed for introduction
Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act
SB 502 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version Senate Bill 502 History OTHER VERSIONS - Committee Substitute (2) | Committee Substitute (1) | Introduced Version | | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature 2026 regular session Enrolled Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 502 By Senators Taylor, Charnock, Helton, Oliverio, Rose, Grady, and Willis [Passed March 14, 2026; to take effect July 1, 2026] AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article , designated §18B- 23-1, §18B-23- 2 , §18B-23- 3 , §18B-23- 4 , §18B-23- 5 , §18B-23- 6 , §18B-23- 7 , §18B-23- 8 , and §18B-23- 9, relating to women’s collegiate athletics; creating a short title; providing legislative findings and purpose; creating definitions; establishing permanent protections for women’s collegiate sports programs through endowment funding; providing for efficiency-based matching funds; limiting use of earnings from a women’s athletics endowment; ensuring compliance with Title IX; providing for oversight and reporting; providing rule-making authority; and providing an effective date. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 23. women's collegiate sports protection act. §18B-23-1. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act. §18B-23-2. Legislative findings and purpose. The Legislature finds that women’s collegiate Olympic sports provide significant educational, athletic, and leadership opportunities for students of this state; that such programs face increasing financial instability due to shifting athletic funding priorities and external market pressures; that operational efficiency within public institutions of higher education should be encouraged and rewarded; and that permanent endowment funding provides protection against program elimination, budget volatility, and inequities arising from fluctuations in athletic funding. The purpose of this article is to protect and sustain women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs through permanent endowment funding; to reward verified institutional efficiencies; and to ensure full compliance with federal Title IX requirements. §18B-23-3. Definitions. For purposes of this article: "Commission" means the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. "Eligible institution" means a public institution of higher education in this state that has women’s collegiate sports. "Qualified contribution" means a private monetary donation made to a women’s athletics endowment. "Verified cost savings" means documented reductions in expenditures achieved through operational efficiencies, administrative consolidation, renegotiated contracts, shared services, energy efficiencies, or similar measures, certified by the commission at the close of a fiscal year. "Women’s athletics endowment" means a permanent endowment fund established pursuant to this article, the principal of which shall not be expended. §18B-23-4. Establishment of women’s athletics endowments. (a) An eligible institution may establish a women’s athletics endowment to support women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs. (b) The commission may establish or designate a statewide women’s athletics endowment trust for the benefit of eligible institutions. (c) Funds contributed to an endowment shall be invested in accordance with applicable state investment standards, and only earnings may be expended. §18B-23-5. Efficiency-based matching contributions. (a) The commission may certify verified cost savings realized by an eligible institution at the close of a fiscal year. (b) Subject to appropriation, the eligible institution may provide matching contributions to a women’s athletics endowment based upon verified cost savings. (c) Matching contributions shall be subject to annual caps established by the Legislature. (d) Savings eligible for matching under this section may not result from reductions in academic programs, faculty positions, essential student services, or actions impairing compliance with federal Title IX requirements. §18B-23-6. Use of endowment earnings. Earnings from a women’s athletics endowment may be used solely for scholarships, coaching and training staff, equipment, facilities, travel, and other expenses directly related to women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs. §18B-23-7. Oversight and reporting. (a) Each participating institution shall submit an annual report to the commission detailing verified cost savings, matching contributions received, private contributions, expenditures, and compliance with Title IX. (b) The commission shall submit an annual consolidated report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. (c) Endowments established pursuant to this article shall be subject to periodic independent audit. §18B-23-8. Rule-making authority. The commission may promulgate legislative rules in accordance with §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this article. §18B-23-9. Effective date. This article shall take effect July 1, 2026. The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled. ............................................................... Clerk of the Senate ............................................................... Clerk of the House of Delegates Originated in the Senate. To take effect July 1, 2026. ............................................................... President of the Senate ............................................................... Speaker of the House of Delegates __________ The within is ................................................ this the........................................... Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026. ............................................................. Governor Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: