CHARLESTON, West Virginia – Over the past few months, The Wild Hunt has tracked a growing trend of legislative efforts to codify Christian beliefs into law. Just two weeks ago, we reported on a North Dakota bill advancing a Christian nationalist agenda by declaring the “Kingship of Jesus Christ.” Now, a newly proposed amendment in West Virginia seeks to erode the separation of church and state even further.
Seal of West Virginia
This resolution, if passed, would enshrine the Bible as the “accurate, historical record of human history” within the state’s constitution. It explicitly describes the Bible as “divinely inspired” and the ultimate moral authority, calling for both the Old and New Testaments to be given a place of “prominence and reverence” in West Virginia’s public buildings, laws, policies, and schools.
Such legislation has serious implications for religious minorities and nonbelievers. Depending on its wording and enforcement, it could undermine religious freedom protections and inch the U.S. closer to establishing Christianity as an official state religion.
Passage of the bill would also mean that the Bible and its teachings would be prominently recognized in West Virginia’s public buildings, laws, policies, and schools.
The resolution has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but it remains unclear whether Committee Chair J.B. Akers (R-Kanawha) will place it on the agenda for discussion. Notably, the bill has been moved multiple times on the West Virginia House of Delegates website over the past week, raising questions about its status and potential advancement.
Screenshot taken March 4 at 1:50 PM Eastern
The Bill is noted on the website but the links return a 404 error. A 404 error is an HTTP status code indicating that the requested webpage or resource cannot be found on the server, often due to a broken link, a mistyped URL, a deleted or moved page, or an issue with the website’s structure.
As of February 27, 2025, after being introduced and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, the bill reads:
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the state of West Virginia amending article II thereof by adding thereto a new section, designated section nine, relating to the State of West Virginia recognizing the Holy Bible, complete with the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as the divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document for our society and government, an accurate historical record of human and natural history, and the utmost authority for human moral behavior. As such, the Holy Bible and its precepts shall be given a place of prominence and reverence in the public buildings, laws, policies, and schools of the state of West Virginia; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:
That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the state of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2026, which proposed amendment is that article IV thereof, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirteen, to read as follows:
ARTICLE II.
- 9. Recognition of Holy Bible as Foundational Text.
The state of West Virginia recognizes the Holy Bible, complete with the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as the divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document for our society and government, an accurate historical record of human and natural history, and the utmost authority for human moral behavior. As such, the Holy Bible and its precepts shall be given a place of prominence and reverence in the public buildings, laws, policies, and schools of the state of West Virginia.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of §3-11-1 et seq. of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment No. 1” and designated as the “Recognition of Holy Bible as Foundational Text” and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows:
To recognize the Holy Bible, complete with the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as the divinely inspired, inerrant foundational document for our society and government, an accurate historical record of human and natural history, and the utmost authority for human moral behavior and to give it a place of prominence in the state of West Virginia.
If lawmakers decide to consider the resolution and it passes both houses of the legislature, it would then go before West Virginia voters for a final decision.
Should HB 3020 gain approval from the West Virginia Legislature, the proposed constitutional amendment—titled “Recognition of the Holy Bible as Foundational Text”—would be placed on the 2026 ballot, allowing residents to determine whether it becomes part of the state’s constitution.
As these legislative efforts continue to surface, The Wild Hunt will monitor the progress of the bill and how other legislature might choose similar strategies across the country.
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