Coop-Gonzalez

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez (R-Randolph) celebrated the passage of two critical bills in the House of Delegates last week, reaffirming his commitment to discipline in schools and upholding biological definitions in state law.

Coop-Gonzalez was a proud sponsor of House Bill 2515, an elementary education discipline bill designed to restore order in West Virginia classrooms.

The bill, which passed overwhelmingly by a 92-4 vote, provides teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade with the authority to remove students who exhibit violent or disruptive behavior. It also ensures parents are notified, requires students to undergo evaluation following repeated offenses, and encourages the establishment of alternative learning environments to better serve students who struggle with behavior issues.

“This legislation is a common-sense approach to ensuring our classrooms remain a safe and effective environment for learning,” Coop-Gonzalez said in a release. “Teachers must have the ability to maintain discipline, and students who are disruptive need to receive the appropriate interventions. I urge the Senate to act swiftly and pass this bill.”

Additionally, the House of Delegates passed the Riley Gaines Act, a bill that legally defines men and women based on biological sex. The legislation aims to preserve fairness in sports and other sex-specific spaces.

The bill faced fierce opposition from Democratic lawmakers, including Delegate Mike Pushkin, Chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, who outrageously compared the bill to the Holocaust, acccording to the release .

“It is disturbing to hear such a reckless and offensive comparison made in an attempt to derail an important bill,” said Coop-Gonzalez. “The Riley Gaines Act is about fairness, biology, and protecting the rights of women and girls. I am proud to stand in support of this legislation and reject the radical attacks against it.”

Coop-Gonzalez remains committed to advancing legislation that protects West Virginians, promotes accountability, and upholds the values of the state, the release states..