Businesses Receiving State Funds Ponder DEI Orders 

Following up on Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s Executive Order 3-25, a bill to codify the elimination of certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs has passed the Senate and is now in the House Education Committee under markup discussion. 

While Senate Bill 474 pinpoints the executive branch and schools, some state entities that receive state funding are wondering how they fit in the mix. 

At the main branch of the Cabell County Public Library system, Executive Director Briana Bowen said state funding covers as much as 20 percent of the system’s income for the year. She isn’t sure of the full DEI implications or ramifications on the library.

The bill calls for the elimination of DEI programs from the executive branch, primary and secondary schools, and state institutions of higher education.

Morrisey’s DEI executive order says entities that receive state funding, like the library, must eliminate preferential treatment of any race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin over another. 

Bowen said she’ll navigate the situation as best she can to comply.

“We want to do what we can do to meet those expectations,ut also be there for our community and uphold the values and principles that we have always been a part of which is supporting everyone from all walks of life,” Bowen said.

Bowen said library policies and programs aren’t really specific, but wide open when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion for all. 

“Right now we don’t have any policies that deal specifically with naming DEI,” she said. “We do uphold the freedom to read and the library bill of rights, which tell us that everyone is welcome in the public library. We have a collection that represents everyone. We are the public library, and the public library is for the public, and it’s for people, and it’s for all people.”

Bowen said she knows the library will have to comply with certain things, but she said all branches will continue serving everyone. 

“We will continue being there for our public and just still representing all backgrounds and people as best as we can,” she said.