Labor & Employment (Workforce Development)

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4004: Creating the Recharge West Virginia Program

This bill establishes the Recharge West Virginia Program, which provides financial reimbursement to private employers in the state for costs associated with training their employees in new skills. The program is administered by the Division of Economic Development and targets companies that wish to upskill their workforce through specialized technical training, leadership development, or registered apprenticeships. To qualify for reimbursement, employers must demonstrate that their employees complete industry-recognized credentials and achieve a wage increase of at least 25% above their previous earnings, with individual reimbursements capped at $10,000 per employee and $100,000 annually per employer. The legislation defines eligible employees as those who have lived and worked full-time in West Virginia for the past six months, while excluding public bodies and foreign nonprofit corporations from participating. Employers must submit detailed applications including training plans, job descriptions, and wage projections to the Division of Economic Development, which will establish specific procedures and standards for evaluating reimbursement requests.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds workforce training and upskilling programs, directly supporting worker development and employment standards through financial reimbursement for employer training initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Minimum Wage Workforce Development

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 1053: Authorizing Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund to modernize and enhance WorkForce West Virginia

SB 1053 creates a new "Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund" to modernize West Virginia's unemployment system. It requires employers to pay 7% of their quarterly unemployment tax contributions into this fund, with limits: deposits stop if the fund reaches $18 million in a year or if the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund falls below $300 million. The fund will cover costs for upgrading the unemployment claims system, improving the job search platform, administrative expenses, and workforce development initiatives. This directly affects employers who pay unemployment taxes in West Virginia, redirecting a portion of their payments toward system improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 7% of unemployment tax to fund system modernization, creating dedicated tax revenue for essential program upgrades.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates fund to modernize unemployment system, improving claims processing and job search tools, directly supporting unemployed workers' access to benefits.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates fund specifically for modernizing unemployment system tech, including upgrading claims platform and job search tools, directly advancing technology infrastructure for government services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5480: Relating to establishing the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program.

HB 5480 establishes the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program to provide paid summer jobs and career training for youth aged 14-20, with priority given to those in foster care, receiving public assistance (like TANF or SNAP), or involved in the justice system. Administered by the Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Development, the program requires partnerships with private businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to create work placements and career exploration opportunities. It mandates annual reporting on program effectiveness, allows private funding through matching contributions, and creates a special revenue account to support operations. The goal is to address workforce shortages, retain youth in West Virginia, and build a skilled local workforce through structured employment experiences.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state-funded youth employment program requiring budget allocation for new government spending on essential services for vulnerable youth.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates paid youth employment program with career training, prioritizing vulnerable groups, directly advancing workforce development and employment opportunities for at-risk youth.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Workforce Development

introduced · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1001: Establishing WV Nuclear Lifecycle and Advanced Fuel Cycle Development Act

SB 1001 establishes West Virginia's Nuclear Lifecycle and Advanced Fuel Cycle Development Act, authorizing state-level support for federally licensed nuclear fuel activities like enrichment, recycling, storage, and transportation. The bill creates a Nuclear Lifecycle Development Fund to support infrastructure, workforce training, and matching federal grants for a "Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus." It explicitly states that state agencies cannot block federally authorized nuclear operations and requires all activities to comply with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules. The legislation directly affects nuclear energy developers, federal partners like the Department of Energy, and communities hosting potential facilities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes Nuclear Lifecycle Development Fund for infrastructure, workforce training, and federal matching grants supporting nuclear energy development and operations.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes nuclear energy development (low-carbon energy source) via infrastructure funding and workforce training, aligning with environmental goals of reducing emissions through clean energy infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExplicitly funds workforce training for nuclear industry jobs, directly advancing employment skills and job creation in the sector.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear Recycling Workforce Development

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5047: To create the Mobile Career and Technical Education Classroom Program.

HB 5047 creates a Mobile Career and Technical Education Classroom Program to address limited access to career training and specialized education in rural and coalfield counties of West Virginia. The program, administered by the state Department of Education, provides funding specifically for converting buses or vehicles into mobile classrooms equipped for career and technical education, workforce training, and fine arts instruction. Funds may cover vehicle conversion, renovation, instructional equipment, and safety modifications, but cannot be used for standard school buses. This initiative prioritizes applications submitted jointly by counties, career centers, or workforce development agencies to expand educational opportunities in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates mobile classrooms to expand career education access in underserved rural counties, funded by state for workforce training and fine arts instruction.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly funds workforce training via mobile classrooms, directly advancing employment readiness in underserved areas.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Workforce Development

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5617: To allow authorized retailers, qualified as workforce training community centes, to retain a portion of consumer sales and use taxes

HB 5617 would allow certified nonprofit retailers (called "workforce training community centers") meeting specific criteria to retain 75% of consumer sales tax revenue collected after the first $1 million in annual sales. These retailers must use the retained funds exclusively for job training and placement services targeting people with employment barriers, such as disabilities. They would continue paying local sales taxes and report retained amounts to the state Department of Revenue. The bill creates a new program to expand access to workforce development by redirecting a portion of sales tax revenue toward job training services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 75% of sales tax revenue to fund job training programs for people with employment barriers, creating new public service funding through tax retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds job training for people with employment barriers through tax retention, directly supporting workforce development and employment access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax Workforce Development

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5539: West Virginia Coal Miners Employment Act

HB 5539 would allow West Virginia employers (both public and private) to give hiring preference to unemployed coal miners who meet specific criteria. To qualify, a miner must have worked in coal mining for at least five years, been unemployed as a coal miner for over one year, not be retired, and not have been fired for cause (like safety violations). Employers could prioritize these miners only if they meet all job-specific knowledge, skills, and eligibility requirements. The bill aims to support coal miners displaced by industry changes by creating a legal pathway for targeted hiring. This is a proposed policy change, not yet enacted.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill prioritizes coal miners, favoring fossil fuels (coal) over renewable energy development. No renewable energy provisions; supports fossil fuel industry employment.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prioritizes unemployed coal miners meeting specific criteria for hiring, directly supporting reemployment in a high-unemployment sector and aligning with employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Child Labor Employment Discrimination Workforce Development

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 5280: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Commerce-Workforce West Virginia from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

HB 5280 adds $2 million from West Virginia's unspent budget surplus to fund WorkForce West Virginia's current operations for fiscal year 2026. It reallocates existing unappropriated funds (money already budgeted but not yet spent) to the department's general budget without creating new taxes or spending. This supplemental appropriation directly supports WorkForce West Virginia's ongoing programs, such as job training and workforce development services. The bill uses surplus funds identified in the Governor's budget document, as noted in the "WHEREAS" clauses, to cover operational costs during the 2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses unspent surplus funds to allocate $2M for workforce development programs without new taxes, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and funding essential services.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $2M from surplus to fund WorkForce West Virginia's job training and workforce development programs, directly advancing employment services without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Workforce Development

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 942: Creating Advanced Baseload Energy Development Act

SB 942, the Advanced-Baseload Energy Development Act, creates a framework to support nuclear reactors and hydrogen energy projects that use carbon capture technology. It establishes a new Advanced Energy Division within the Office of Energy to coordinate development, permit projects, and partner with universities for workforce training. The bill provides tax incentives for qualifying projects, requires community benefit agreements, and allows utilities to recover project costs through rate increases. It specifically targets advanced-baseload energy projects using advanced nuclear reactors or fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen with carbon capture, aiming to leverage West Virginia’s energy infrastructure and workforce.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly provides tax incentives for qualifying energy projects, directly advancing tax policy to fund development of nuclear/hydrogen energy initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProvides tax incentives for nuclear/hydrogen projects with carbon capture, establishes new energy division, and funds clean energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes nuclear/hydrogen energy with carbon capture, tax incentives for clean projects, and carbon reduction framework aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentWorkforce training partnerships with universities directly support labor development and job creation in emerging energy sectors, aligning with funding and strengthening worker skills.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear Workforce Development

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5677: To create the Career Pipeline for Coalfield Counties Act.

HB 5677 establishes the Coalfield Career Pipeline Program to expand workforce training in West Virginia's coalfield counties. The bill authorizes mobile career and technical education units, paid apprenticeships, certification programs, and employer partnerships focused on priority industries like commercial driving, healthcare, construction, and emerging energy trades. It prioritizes collaborative applications involving schools, workforce boards, and local governments. The program aims to directly support residents in these economically transitioning communities by connecting them to in-demand jobs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes CTE program with mobile units, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships to expand workforce training access in coalfield counties, directly advancing educational opportunity through funding and collaboration.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes paid apprenticeships and employer partnerships in key industries, enhancing workforce training and job opportunities for workers in target sectors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Apprenticeships Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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