Labor & Employment

introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 106: Relating to locality pay to certain DOH employees

SB 106 authorizes the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to provide additional locality pay to employees working in specific jurisdictions where such pay is needed to recruit and retain staff. The bill allows this extra pay - up to $10,000 annually - to exceed standard salary ranges for those positions. The commissioner must propose rules for legislative approval to implement this policy. This directly affects Division of Highways employees in designated areas, aiming to improve workforce stability through localized pay adjustments.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes up to $10k annual locality pay for Highway recruitment/retention, directly increasing wages for specific workers to address staffing needs.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 563: Repealing exemptions from Division of Personnel

Senate Bill 563 repeals specific exemptions that allowed three West Virginia state agencies to operate outside the standard Division of Personnel's rules. It removes special personnel provisions for the Department of Transportation (§5F-2-8), the Tax Division (§11B-1-8), and the Bureau for Social Services (§49-10-101-103). The bill requires these agencies to follow the state's standard hiring, pay, and personnel management procedures governed by the Division of Personnel. This change directly affects how these agencies manage their staff, bringing them under unified state personnel oversight.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepealing exemptions requires state agencies to follow standard personnel rules for hiring/pay, aligning with employment standards and ensuring consistent workplace management practices.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 555: Establishing Essential Personnel Bridge Grant Program

SB 555 establishes the Essential Personnel Bridge Grant Program to provide targeted financial assistance to West Virginia school districts for essential staff positions not fully covered by existing state funding. It directly affects county school boards, allowing them to apply for reimbursements to cover part of the salaries and benefits for staff in roles critical to maintaining instructional programming, special education services, mental health support, transportation, or compliance with mandates. Applications require demonstrating that positions exceed state-funded levels and address specific student needs, with grants prioritized based on county financial capacity, local funding reliance, and impact on student outcomes. Funds may only be used for mandated salaries/benefits of the requested positions, and the program requires annual reporting on grant usage and student impacts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides targeted state funding to cover essential K-12 staff salaries/benefits for critical roles like special education and mental health, directly addressing underfunding gaps.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly funds mental health support staff in schools through bridge grants, advancing mental health services under healthcare topic95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds essential school staff salaries/benefits for critical roles (instructional, special ed, mental health), directly supporting employment stability and coverage for these positions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 114: Creating Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program

SB 114 creates a pilot program offering 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible West Virginia state employees during the birth or adoption of a child under age 12, covering July 2026 through July 2028. Employees receive 90% of their average weekly wage (capped at $1,000 weekly) and may combine this with unpaid leave for up to 18 weeks total per 12-month period. The program applies only to full-time state government employees who have worked 12 consecutive weeks, excluding part-time workers, elected officials, and certain vocational program participants. It requires employers to maintain health coverage during leave and mandates a Department of Labor report to the legislature on the pilot’s outcomes. This is a temporary initiative with a sunset date, not a permanent policy.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates paid parental leave benefits (90% wage coverage) for state employees, expanding worker benefits and protections under Labor & Employment policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 132: Increasing retirement benefit multiplier of Deputy Sheriff Retirement System Act

This bill increases the retirement benefit multiplier for West Virginia deputy sheriffs from 2.5% to 3% of their final average salary multiplied by years of credited service. It directly affects deputy sheriffs who retire on or after July 1, 2018, by raising their monthly pension amount under the Deputy Sheriff Retirement System. The change modifies the calculation method in the existing retirement law without altering contribution rates or eligibility rules. This adjustment results in higher retirement benefits for qualifying members based on their salary and service history. The policy change applies specifically to the state's deputy sheriff retirement system, not other public retirement plans.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases retirement benefits for deputy sheriffs (specific occupation), expanding worker benefits under employment standards without restricting rights or wages.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 4133: Defining a work day for school service personnel and removing a provision relating to employment of licensed practical nurses

HB 4133 defines a standard workday for West Virginia school service personnel (such as aides, custodians, and maintenance staff) as eight hours with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break, and a half-day as four hours. It specifies that employees working weekends (Saturday/Sunday) must be paid for at least half a day per day worked, or a full day if working over 3.5 hours. The bill also removes a prior provision about employing licensed practical nurses, though the specific content of that removed section is not detailed in the text. These changes directly affect school service workers' scheduling, pay for weekend work, and defined work hours under state employment rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates minimum weekend pay (half-day or full day) for school service personnel, protecting compensation rights and setting clear workday standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 4513: Authorizing adjustment from federal adjusted gross income for certain law enforcement pension benefit payments

HB 4513 would expand a state tax exemption for pension benefits by extending the existing $2,000 annual exclusion from West Virginia income tax to include Division of Natural Resources police, deputy sheriffs, full-time firefighters, and municipal police officers. Currently, this exemption applies to some retirement benefits but excludes these specific public safety roles. The bill modifies tax code sections to explicitly add these officers to the list of law enforcement personnel whose pension payments qualify for the exemption. This change directly affects eligible officers in these roles by reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes. The bill is in early stages, having been introduced on January 19, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemption for public safety pensioners, providing tax relief by modifying tax code to include specific officers in existing $2,000 annual exclusion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax exemption for public safety pension benefits, enhancing retirement compensation for covered workers per bill's explicit modification of tax code.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Pensions Tax Incentives Retirement Benefits Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 110: Creating WV Black Lung Program

SB 110 creates West Virginia's State Black Lung Program to provide financial benefits to coal miners diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis (black lung disease). It establishes a conclusive presumption of entitlement to pain and suffering benefits after 10 years of exposure (with 15 years required for full benefits), requiring no total disability proof. Benefits are calculated as $200 monthly base plus $15 per additional year beyond 15 years of exposure, and recipients may claim these as a state tax credit. The program is funded by a new 10% tax on coal severance and electricity generation from solar/wind devices, depositing revenue into the State Black Lung Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded benefits program for miners, allocating public funds for essential worker compensation under workers' compensation framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates financial benefits program for occupational lung disease, expanding healthcare access for miners without disability proof requirement95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates mandatory benefits program for coal miners with black lung, removing disability proof requirement and establishing clear payout structure. Directly expands worker compensation protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Workers' Compensation

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4627: Mandate free cancer screenings for professional firefighters.

HB 4627 requires health insurance plans and self-insured employer health plans in West Virginia to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters without cost-sharing (such as copays or deductibles), except in high-deductible health plans where standard deductibles apply. The bill applies to all firefighters employed by state, county, or municipal entities and mandates coverage based on the International Association of Fire Fighters' current screening guidelines. This ensures firefighters can access regular cancer screenings at no additional cost, promoting early detection and health monitoring for this occupational group.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost cancer screenings for firefighters via insurance coverage, expanding access to preventive healthcare under public safety health protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates free cancer screenings for firefighters (high-risk occupation), improving workplace safety and protecting workers' health without cost-sharing per IAF firefighters guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4074: Relating to establishing a pilot program to develop a childcare program where the state, employer, and employee, contribute one-third of the total cost each

HB 4074 creates a three-year pilot program in West Virginia where state, employer, and employee each pay one-third of childcare costs for eligible employees. It directly affects low-income workers (household income 150%-250% of Federal Poverty Level) in three urban and two rural counties who don’t qualify for existing childcare subsidies. The program requires the Department of Human Services to develop guidelines, provide technical assistance, and report annually on participation and impacts. If successful, it could lead to a permanent statewide program to improve childcare affordability, access, and quality for working parents.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides childcare cost-sharing for low-income workers (150-250% FPL), enabling employment access for those excluded from existing subsidies. Directly supports workforce participation and reduces employment barriers.95% confidence

Tags Families

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