Bill > HB4746

This bill, known as the First Amendment Preservation Act, aims to prevent state government entities, including agencies, institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions, from contracting with advertising agencies that use the services of "media monitoring organizations." A media monitoring organization is defined as a company that rates or ranks news and information sources based on their factual accuracy, misinformation, bias, or adherence to journalistic standards, including those that claim to fact-check or determine news accuracy, but excluding companies that only rate media for audience size or compile news clippings. The bill prohibits state agencies from directly contracting with these media monitoring organizations, or from contracting with advertising or marketing agencies that utilize their services for state contracts. Furthermore, agencies must obtain written certification from advertising and marketing contractors that they comply with these provisions, and this rule will apply to all relevant contracts and agreements executed, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2026, ensuring that state funds are not used to support viewpoint discrimination and that state-funded advertising reaches the widest possible audience regardless of political ideology.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4746&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill