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HCR 33

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study women’s collegiate sports programs in West Virginia

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lori Dittman and 9 co-sponsors

The bill would study and report on sustaining West Virginia’s women’s college sports through funding, NIL impacts, and potential endowments or partnerships.

To House Rules
#resolutions(interimstudy)
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Bill Summary · HCR 33

Overview

House Concurrent Resolution 33 (HCR 33), introduced in the West Virginia Legislature in March 2026, requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study West Virginia’s women’s collegiate sports programs. The study focuses on financial sustainability, the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations and potential revenue-sharing models, and existing Title IX obligations. The resolution aims to inform future legislative action and potential draft legislation.

Purpose and intent

  • Acknowledge the value of women’s collegiate Olympic sports as providing education, athletic opportunity, and leadership development for female student-athletes in West Virginia.
  • Respond to financial pressures and changes in the national collegiate landscape (notably NIL developments and possible revenue-sharing schemes) that may threaten the viability of non-revenue women's programs.
  • Explore mechanisms to protect and sustain women's athletics programs while balancing fairness, opportunity, and state interests.

Key provisions to be studied

The resolution directs the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to examine the following areas:

  1. Financial Stability

    • Assess current funding levels for non-revenue women’s sports at public universities.
    • Analyze how shifting athletic priorities could impact these programs.

  2. Endowment Feasibility

    • Evaluate the potential effectiveness of permanent endowment funds for women’s programs.
    • Consider private–public partnership models as a means of sustaining programs.

  3. NIL & Revenue Sharing

    • Examine how NIL regulations and any designation of student-athletes as employees could affect the viability of women’s sports programs.

  4. Operational Efficiency

    • Identify practical, verifiable cost-saving measures that could be redirected to support women’s athletics.

Deliverables and timelines

  • Report deadline to Governor and legislative leaders: January 1, 2027.
  • Subsequent reporting to Legislature: The Joint Committee shall report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the regular session of 2027, including any draft legislation necessary to implement recommendations.
  • Funding for the study: Expenses for conducting the study, producing the report, and drafting legislation are to be paid from the legislative appropriations allocated to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

Who is affected

  • Public universities in West Virginia with women’s collegiate programs (particularly non-revenue sports such as softball, volleyball, gymnastics, and other Olympic sports) that could face funding shifts.
  • Student-athletes participating in women’s collegiate sports.
  • Institutions exploring NIL policies, revenue-sharing concepts, and cost-management strategies.
  • State legislators and policy makers considering potential legislative changes resulting from the study.

Procedural context

  • Introduced March 14, 2026, and referred to the House Rules Committee.
  • Sponsored and co-sponsored by a broad group of lawmakers, indicating bipartisan interest in examining the issue.
  • As a concurrent resolution, it calls for an internal study rather than immediate statutory changes.

Potential impact

  • Provides a structured, data-driven basis for policy decisions regarding funding, NIL policy integration, and sustainable models for women’s athletics in West Virginia.
  • Could lead to recommendations for new legislation, funding mechanisms (like endowments or public–private partnerships), or adjustments to state-tier funding priorities to protect Title IX-equitable opportunities.
  • Encourages transparent analysis of cost drivers and potential efficiency gains in university athletic departments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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