# West Virginia HB 5251: Adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the categories covered by the Human Rights Act and WV Fair Housing Act

West Virginia HB 5251, Adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the categories covered by the Human Rights Act and WV Fair Housing Act, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mike Pushkin (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-05 (Filed for introduction) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5251-2026rs
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: West Virginia HB 5251
- State: West Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the categories covered by the Human Rights Act and WV Fair Housing Act
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Last action: 2026-02-05, Filed for introduction
- Sponsor: Mike Pushkin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: §16B-17-2, §16B-17-3, §16B-17-4, §16B-17-8, §16B-17-9, §16B-17-13, §16B-18-3, §16B-18-5, §16B-18-6, §16B-18-7, House Government Organization
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike Pushkin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Rick Garcia (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Evan Hansen (Democratic), House

## Actions (4)

- 2026-02-05: Filed for introduction (House)
- 2026-02-05: To Government Organization then Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-05: Introduced in House (House)
- 2026-02-05: To House Government Organization (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5251 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5251 intr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed)
- HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed)
- HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed)
- HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law)
- HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime (signed)
- HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5251 intr.htm)
- [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb5251 intr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs)
- [HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to tha…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4390-2026rs)
- [HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs)
- [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs)
- [HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4138-2026rs)
- [HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4106-2026rs)
- [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills)
- [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5251-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).