SB 633 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to WV Commission on Holocaust Education

SB 633 modernizes West Virginia's Commission on Holocaust Education by updating its membership structure and governance. The bill replaces outdated provisions relying on Holocaust survivors (many now deceased) with a new framework allowing commission-appointed voting members and non-voting student advisory members, while explicitly requiring Holocaust education to remain the commission's sole purpose. It strengthens safeguards to protect historical accuracy and ensures the commission continues providing centralized educational resources for schools, churches, and communities studying the Holocaust. These changes aim to maintain the commission's mission as a permanent statewide resource for Holocaust education amid evolving circumstances.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Committee Substitute → sb633 sfa grady _1 2-10 adopted.htm · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to modernize the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education by updating its legislative findings to address rising antisemitism and the aging survivor population. The amendment strengthens the commission's mission to ensure Holocaust education remains the sole primary focus, explicitly limiting references to other historical events to only as supplemental context. It also mandates a 10-year legislative review of the commission's effectiveness and updates the commission's duties to include developing accurate educational materials and addressing contemporary antisemitism.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed and clarified to strictly prioritize Holocaust education over other historical topics, preventing the commission from redefining the singular nature of the Holocaust.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific legislative findings regarding the rise in antisemitism and the need to preserve historical accuracy.

Clarified that references to other acts of mass violence are only permitted as supplemental context and cannot diminish the singular nature of the Holocaust.

Added a new requirement for the Legislature to review the commission's composition and effectiveness every 10 years.

Updated the commission's duties to include developing accurate educational materials, ensuring alignment with national standards, and addressing contemporary antisemitism.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the reporting requirement to submit annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability instead of the Governor and Legislature.

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to modernize the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education by updating its membership structure to reflect the passing of survivors and adding new legislative findings about contemporary antisemitism. The changes include redefining the commission's purpose to strictly prioritize Holocaust education over other mass violence, adjusting the number of voting members from 13 to 11, and creating new categories for educators and public members. Additionally, the committee substitute added specific provisions for commission-appointed voting members and standing non-voting advisory members to ensure diverse representation and historical accuracy.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include explicit legislative findings regarding the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, while simultaneously narrowing the commission's focus to ensure Holocaust education remains the sole primary purpose, preventing references to other mass violence from diminishing the Holocaust's unique status.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Holocaust education' and 'supplemental historical context' to strictly limit how other mass violence can be referenced in the curriculum.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the commission's voting membership from 13 members to 11 members, reorganizing the categories to include specific roles for Social Studies, English, and Fine Arts coordinators.

Established standing non-voting advisory members, including specific representatives for Jewish community organizations and civil rights enforcement, alongside the ability to include students.

REQUIREMENT

Introduced new requirements for commission-appointed voting members, allowing the commission to appoint up to two additional members with a two-thirds vote to preserve historical integrity.

Updated legislative findings to explicitly mention the rise in antisemitism, the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, and the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting as context for the commission's work.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

31–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 33

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

29 Yea 2

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

To House Education

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

To Education

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 66)

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

To Education

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

To Education

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors