HB 4622 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to the Office of the Inspector General

HB 4622 reorganizes the Office of the Inspector General by removing it from the Department of Health and eliminating the requirement for the Department of Health to provide administrative support. The bill clarifies that the Inspector General can independently conduct performance, financial, and other audits of the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, and Department of Health Facilities (including their contractors). It also requires the Inspector General to submit reports and notify prosecutors/law enforcement if criminal violations are suspected during investigations. This procedural bill directly affects the Inspector General’s operational structure and oversight authority over specific state health and human services agencies.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Jan 30, 2026

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Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill reorganizes state agencies by moving the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) out of the Department of Health and into a separate autonomous status. It adds new oversight agencies to the Department of Health while removing others from the OIG's jurisdiction. The changes clarify the OIG's audit powers and grant it exemptions from civil service rules and grievance procedures to increase operational independence.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Department of Health by adding the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification, while simultaneously reducing the OIG's scope by removing several ombudsman and licensing offices from its list of included agencies.

SCOPE

The Office of the Inspector General is redefined as an autonomous agency department rather than a unit within the Department of Health.

The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification is added to the list of agencies within the Department of Health.

The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification, Foster Care Ombudsman, Olmstead Office, Investigations and Fraud Management, Quality Control, Mental Health Ombudsman, WV Clearance for Access, and Human Rights Commission are removed from the list of agencies within the Office of the Inspector General.

REQUIREMENT

New provisions exempt OIG employees from the classified civil service system and state grievance procedures, though current employees retain their status until they leave their positions.

DEFINITION

The bill clarifies that the OIG has the power to conduct performance audits, financial audits, evaluations, and attestations of the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, and Department of Health Facilities.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

To House Finance

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

By substitute, do pass, but first to Finance

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

To House Health and Human Resources

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

To Health and Human Resources then Finance

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors