Human Rights
Maine 131st Legislature
An Act to Protect Against Discrimination by Public Entities [HB-279]
[Race and Civil Rights ]
[Human Rights ]
[Disabilities ]
An Act to Protect Against Discrimination by Public Entities
Sponsored by: Rep. Matthew Moonen
Held By Governor on 08/09/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Education - Maryland Civic Excellence Program - Established [SB-271]
[Education ]
[Children and Youth ]
Establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program to recognize students and public schools that promote the civic readiness and civic engagement of students in public schools in the State; requiring each participating local school system, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, to award a student a Seal of Civic Excellence if the student meets certain criteria and designate a public school as a Center of Civil Excellence under certain circumstances, and to submit an annual report to the Department of Education by July 1 starting in 2024; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Justin Ready
Hearing 3/29 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/22/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Maryland Fair Scheduling Act [HB-349]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Food ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring an employer who employs individuals in a food service facility or retail establishment to pay certain employees at a certain rate of pay for certain shifts of work, except under certain circumstances; providing that certain employees employed in a food service facility or retail establishment have the right to decline to work hours that occur during the 11 hours following the end of a shift; authorizing the Commissioner to conduct an investigation under certain circumstances; imposing certain civil penalties; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Moon
Hearing 2/14 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/01/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Relating to forbidding excessive government limitations on exercise of religion [HB-3042]
[Religion ]
[Human Rights ]
The purpose of this bill is to forbid excessive government limitations on exercise of religion and creates the Equal Protection for Religion Act.
Sponsored by: Rep. Tom Fast
Chapter 295, Acts, Regular Session, 2023 on 05/01/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
State Government - Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs - Alterations [SB-251]
[Human Rights ]
[Community Development ]
[Ethics ]
Renaming the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs to be the Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs; increasing the number of members of the Commission from 15 to 21; altering certain qualifications for members appointed to the Commission; staggering the terms of Commission members; and altering the duties of the Commission.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mary Washington
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 46 on 04/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Creating the Keep Roe Reversed Forever Act [HB-2976]
[Reproductive Rights ]
[Healthcare ]
The purpose of this bill is to establish that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution is the underlying legal basis that supports Amendment No 1. of the West Virginia Constitution's prohibition of directly or symbolically endorsing convenience abortions or from the state providing federal or state taxpayer dollars to facilities that provide convenience abortions.
Sponsored by: Rep. Pat McGeehan
Filed For Introduction on 01/24/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Relating to the definition of employer for sexual harassment purposes [HB-2877]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Human Rights ]
[Law Enforcement ]
The purpose of this bill is to include certain employers with two or more employees subject to actions for discriminatory practices before the human rights commission; to include individual independent contractors in the definition of "employee"; and to increase the time period in which to bring an action before the human rights commission to three years after the alleged act of discrimination.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kayla Young
Filed For Introduction on 01/20/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Commercial Law – Consumer Protection – Biometric Data Privacy [SB-169]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
Regulating the use of biometric data by private entities, including by requiring certain private entities in possession of biometric data to develop a written policy, made available to the public, establishing a retention schedule and guidelines for permanent destruction of biometric data; authorizing an individual alleging a violation of the Act to bring a civil action against the offending private entity; and making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice.
Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe
Hearing 2/08 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/21/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Relating to statute of limitations for discrimination [HB-2843]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Race and Civil Rights ]
[Human Rights ]
The purpose of this bill is to amend the definition of employer and the number of persons employed to qualify as an employer; and to extend the period of the statute of limitations to file a complaint for an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice under the the Human Rights Commission.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kayla Young
Filed For Introduction on 01/19/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Requiring certain movie theaters to provide open captioning during certain showings [SB-169]
[Arts and Culture ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Disabilities ]
[Film Production ]
The purpose of this bill is to require exhibitors of motion pictures who operate two or more theatres in more than one location in this state to provide open captioning during at least two showings per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning. The bill requires, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.
Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Caputo
Filed For Introduction on 01/13/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
State Government – Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs – Alterations [HB-141]
[Human Rights ]
[Race and Civil Rights ]
[Ethics ]
[Community Development ]
[Public Safety ]
Renaming the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs to be the Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs; increasing the number of members of the Commission from 15 to 21; altering certain qualifications for members appointed to the Commission; staggering the terms of Commission members; and altering the duties of the Commission.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Kaiser
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 45 on 04/11/2023
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Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference). [SJR-255]
[Reproductive Rights ]
Constitutional amendment (first reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that the right to make and effectuate one's own decisions about all matters related to one's pregnancy cannot be denied, burdened, or otherwise infringed upon by the Commonwealth, unless justified by a compelling state interest and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from penalizing, prosecuting, or otherwise taking adverse action
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Sponsored by: Sen. Adam Ebbin
Left In Courts Of Justice on 02/22/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
WV Freedom of Conscience Protection Act [SB-55]
[Human Rights ]
[Religion ]
WV Freedom of Conscience Protection Act
Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Karnes
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Creating Student Journalist Press Freedom Protection Act [SB-121]
[Education ]
[Media and Advertising ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Human Rights ]
[Law Enforcement ]
The purpose of this bill is to create the Student Journalist Press Freedom Restoration Act, to provide for legislative findings, to require that the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission allow for the free expression of student journalists on campuses of middle schools, high schools, and colleges and universities, to provide a framework and parameters for free expression, and to allow for injunctive relief in the event that this article is violated.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mark Maynard
Chapter 175, Acts, Regular Session, 2023 on 05/01/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Relating to abortions after detection of an unborn child’s heartbeat [HB-2312]
[Reproductive Rights ]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Criminal Justice ]
The purpose of this bill is to enact the Heartbeat Protection Act. The bill prohibits abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill provides exceptions. The bill applies only to intrauterine pregnancies. The bill makes findings. The bill establishes standards, requirements, and procedures. The bill requires documentation. The bill requires notice and acknowledgments. The bill provides for severability and establishes criminal penalties. The bill permits civil actions and defines terms. Finally, the bill provides for rulemaking.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nicholas Keaton
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
To clarify that impermissible discrimination includes discrimination based on certain hair textures and styles [HB-2092]
[Race and Civil Rights ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
The purpose of this bill is to clarify that impermissible discrimination includes discrimination based on certain hair textures and styles.
Sponsored by: Rep. Danielle Walker
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Requiring the Human Rights Commission, when investigating a complaint of discrimination, to specifically include an examination of the intent of the person [HB-2398]
[Human Rights ]
[Race and Civil Rights ]
The purpose of this bill is to require the Human Rights Commission, when investigating a complaint of discrimination, to specifically include an examination of the intent of the person or entity alleged to have committed the unlawful discriminatory practice.
Sponsored by: Rep. Tom Fast
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Relating to unlawful discriminatory practices in categories covered by the Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act [HB-2290]
[Housing ]
[Human Rights ]
[Race and Civil Rights ]
[Law Enforcement ]
The purpose of this bill is to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the categories covered by the Human Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination in employment and places of public accommodation. The bill adds "age", "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the categories covered by the Fair Housing Act prohibiting discrimination in housing. The bill defines "sexual orientation" and "gender identity".
Sponsored by: Rep. Danielle Walker
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
To Protect Newborn Genetic Privacy Rights [HB-2440]
[Healthcare ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Public Health ]
[Children and Youth ]
The purpose of this bill is to require the express consent of a parent or guardian to conduct a genetic screening of a newborn infant, to retain blood samples from the infant, and to retain and share results of the genetic screening of the infant.
Sponsored by: Rep. Chris Phillips
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023
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West Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Provide for fines for hospitals that do not allow at least one visitor [HB-2368]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Human Services ]
The purpose of this bill is to establish additional visitation requirements for certain healthcare facilities during a declared public health state of emergency for a contagious disease and setting a minimum fine for violation of the requirements.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kathie Crouse
Filed For Introduction on 01/11/2023