West Virginia's House Joint Resolution 31 would, if adopted by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature, ask the state's voters to ratify or reject the following amendment to the state constitution:
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.
The references to "natural history" and "public ... schools" together suggest that the amendment might be intended or invoked to undermine the teaching of evolution and related topics, such as the Big Bang, in West Virginia's public schools.
Introduced on February 28, 2025 by Henry Dillon (R-District 29) and eight of his colleagues in the House of Delegates, the resolution was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (Early press coverage misdescribes it as House Bill 3020 or House Joint Resolution 3020.)
