Labor & Employment (Public Safety)

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 774: Allowing certain county EMS officers to participate in EMS Retirement System

SB 774 allows county emergency medical services (EMS) officers to join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System (EMSRS), removing a prior requirement that they be certified as law enforcement officers. It enables current EMS officers enrolled in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) to elect to switch to the EMSRS and transfer their eligible service years to the new system. The bill clarifies how retirement benefits are calculated for these officers, ensuring their prior service counts toward future benefits. This change directly affects county EMS officers by providing them with a retirement system tailored to their profession.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands retirement benefits for EMS officers by enabling system transfers and clarifying benefit calculations, improving employment benefits for a specific workforce.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees Tags Public Safety

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 860: Relating to payment of funeral expenses for first responders

SB 860 creates a state fund to cover funeral expenses for certain first responders who die while performing official duties. It authorizes up to $8,000 in payments for reasonable funeral and burial costs for law enforcement officers (including public facility security staff), firefighters (paid and volunteer), emergency medical personnel, correctional employees, and probation officers. The fund complements existing benefits but ensures at least $8,000 is available if other sources provide less. Payments require written certification that the death occurred "as a proximate result of official duties" and do not duplicate benefits under other state laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state fund for first responder funeral expenses, allocating public funds to support essential personnel. Directly funds a public safety program through state budget.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides $8,000 funeral expense coverage for first responders killed on duty, expanding worker benefits for high-risk employment. This strengthens family support and employment safety net for these workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Tags Public Safety

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

HB 5168: To increase funding for EMS first responders.

HB 5168 establishes two new funds to increase emergency medical services (EMS) funding across West Virginia. The County Emergency Medical Services Fund supports counties with dedicated EMS taxes or fees, while the All County Emergency Medical Services Fund provides uniform support to all counties. The bill transfers $6 million annually from the state lottery fund to the renamed EMS Salary Enhancement, Crisis Response, and Mental Health Treatment Fund (for worker salaries and crisis services) and $3 million each to the two new funds. These funds must be used exclusively to boost EMS worker salaries, improve crisis response, and support mental health services to help retain staff.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $6M annually from lottery fund to EMS for crisis response and mental health services, directly increasing emergency healthcare funding and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly funds EMS worker salaries via $6M annual transfer, enhancing compensation for emergency medical services professionals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Public Safety

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5428: Relating to providing traumatic event counseling for peace officers.

HB 5428 requires employers of peace officers, firefighters, and 911 dispatchers to provide up to 12 sessions of licensed counseling (via telehealth if desired) for employees exposed to specific traumatic events in the line of duty, such as witnessing death, using deadly force, or responding to child-related incidents. Employers must cover up to 24 additional counseling sessions within one year if a mental health professional deems them necessary for recovery. The bill also prohibits requiring employees to use accrued leave for counseling appointments and ensures no loss of pay or benefits for up to 30 days if deemed unfit for duty during treatment, subject to specific conditions. It allows employees to select their own licensed mental health professional and clarifies that payment does not create a presumption of compensable claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides mental health support for law enforcement officers after traumatic incidents, promoting officer well-being and accountability in criminal justice operations.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates employer coverage for mental health counseling for first responders exposed to trauma, directly expanding access to mental health services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer-provided mental health counseling for trauma exposure during work duties, enhancing workplace safety and employee well-being for high-risk professions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Substance Abuse Tags Public Safety

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5326: Raise cost of living threshold for retired municipal police officers

HB 5326 increases the amount of pension income subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retired municipal police officers, firefighters, and water/sewage system employees from $15,000 to $30,000 per year. Currently, only the first $15,000 of a retiree’s pension was adjusted for inflation each year; this change extends the COLA calculation to the first $30,000. The bill does not alter the 4% annual COLA cap or the two-year waiting period for new retirees. This policy change directly affects eligible retired municipal public safety and utility workers by providing broader inflation protection on their pension benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state pension spending by extending COLA to $30k threshold, raising budget allocation for retired public safety employees without tax changes.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends COLA to $30k pension tier for public safety retirees, directly enhancing retirement benefits for specific labor groups under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Retirement Benefits Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5524: To permit paid county EMS workers to join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System.

HB 5524 would allow paid county emergency medical services (EMS) workers to join West Virginia's Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. Currently, this system only covers certain EMS personnel, but the bill expands eligibility to include paid county EMS employees under specific circumstances. Key provisions amend retirement code sections to define eligibility, require participating employers to cover related costs proportionally, and address asset transfers. The bill does not change existing retirement benefits but enables new members to participate in the system. This is a policy change affecting county EMS workers' retirement options, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits for county EMS workers, strengthening employment benefits under Labor & Employment by increasing coverage eligibility.95% confidence

Tags Public Safety

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5391: Amending the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System.

HB 5391 amends West Virginia's Emergency Medical Services Retirement System (EMSRS) to benefit current and future EMS personnel. It changes retirement benefit calculations to use a member's five highest-earning years instead of the current method, exempts all EMSRS pension income from West Virginia personal income tax (removing a previous $2,000 tax cap), and eliminates the 1,040-hour annual work limit for retired EMS workers returning to service in areas with staffing shortages. These changes directly affect emergency medical services workers enrolled in the EMSRS, providing tax relief and greater workforce flexibility. The bill creates the "EMS Retirement Equity, Tax Relief, and Workforce Support Act" as part of these policy updates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts EMS pensions from state income tax, removing a $2,000 cap, providing tax relief for retirees.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances EMS retirement benefits via higher pension calculations, tax exemption, and flexible work return - expanding worker benefits directly aligning with Labor & Employment support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Pensions Retirement Benefits Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 5472: Formally recognize Mine Rescue teams as first responders in West Virginia.

HB 5472 formally adds mine rescue personnel to West Virginia's definition of "emergency responders" under the Survivor Benefits Act. This means qualified mine rescue teams - those meeting specific training and certification requirements - will now be eligible for survivor benefits if they die while performing mine emergency response duties, such as responding to explosions, fires, or equipment maintenance. The bill amends existing law to include mine rescue personnel in the same category as firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement for benefit eligibility. It directly affects mine rescue team members who meet state training standards and perform authorized emergency response activities. The legislation extends existing survivor benefits without creating new costs or programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands survivor benefits for mine rescue workers, enhancing workplace safety protections and financial security for families of responders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Unemployment Tags Public Safety

Track

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 724: Relating to home confinement officers’ participation in EMS retirement system

SB 724 removes the requirement that home confinement officers must be certified as law-enforcement officers to join West Virginia's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Retirement System. The bill also extends the deadline for eligible home confinement officers to elect participation in the retirement system. This change directly affects home confinement officers working in the state's justice system, allowing them to access retirement benefits without prior law-enforcement certification. The bill amends specific sections of the West Virginia Code (§16-5V-2 and §16-5V-6f) to update eligibility rules and election procedures.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves certification barrier for retirement benefits, expanding access for home confinement officers as employment benefit.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Tags Public Safety

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

HB 5030: Authorizing adjustment from federal adjusted gross income for certain law enforcement pension benefit payments

HB 5030 modifies West Virginia's tax code to expand tax exemptions for certain public safety pensions. It adds Division of Natural Resources police, deputy sheriffs, full-time firefighters, and municipal police officers to the existing list of law enforcement personnel who can exclude the first $2,000 of retirement benefits from state taxable income. The bill amends §11-21-12(c)(6) of the West Virginia Code to include these roles under the tax-exempt pension provision. This change directly affects current and future retirees in these specific public safety professions by reducing their state income tax burden on pension payments. The policy change is limited to the first $2,000 of qualifying pension income per year, consistent with existing tax rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemptions for public safety pensions, reducing taxable income for middle-income earners, aligning with tax relief support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax exemption for public safety pensions, adding specific roles to exclude retirement benefits from state tax, enhancing worker financial security.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Pensions Retirement Benefits Tags Public Safety

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