WV SB531

Expands protections against assault and battery at sporting events to cover both athletic officials (referees, umpires, coaches) and participants (players, team members), applying to events and travel to/from events

Establishes assault on an athletic official or participant as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $250-$500 and jail time of 5 days to 6 months

Establishes battery on an athletic official or participant as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500-$1,000 and jail time of 10 days to 12 months

Authorizes county boards of education and state higher education governing boards to ban convicted offenders from all state school and school-sponsored sports events for a minimum of 365 days via written notice

Violation of the ban constitutes trespass, subjecting the banned individual to prosecution under trespass statutes; effective July 11, 2025