Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

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

HB 5515: Relating to modernizing and updating workers’ compensation statutes.

HB 5515 modernizes West Virginia's workers' compensation laws by updating outdated statutes and procedures. It revises key provisions for reporting workplace injuries, requiring employees to notify employers in writing within a specified timeframe and employers to report injuries to insurers within five days. The bill removes obsolete sections from 2005-2006 revisions, standardizes references to government agencies, updates statutory citations, and changes the Board of Review membership from five to a minimum of three but no more than five members. These changes directly affect workers, employers, and insurers by clarifying reporting requirements and streamlining administrative processes under the current workers' compensation system.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentModernizes workers' compensation procedures, requiring timely injury reporting and standardizing processes to strengthen claim resolution and worker protections under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5256: Relating to wages of persons with disabilities

HB 5256 removes an exemption allowing nonprofit workshops to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, requiring all such workers to receive standard minimum pay. It establishes a state task force with 17 members - including disability advocates, agency representatives, and service providers - to develop an "Employment First Policy" prioritizing integrated, competitive employment in the general workforce. The policy shift mandates state agencies to align services toward helping people with disabilities achieve competitive wages and benefits in mainstream jobs, rather than segregated settings. This directly affects individuals with disabilities employed in nonprofit workshops and state-funded employment programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves exemption allowing below-minimum wage for disabled workers, mandates standard pay, and promotes integrated employment - directly strengthens wage protections and employment standards for vulnerable workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Workers' Compensation Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 895: Removing time limits for filing or modifying claims for massive fibrosis

This bill removes time limits for workers to file or modify claims related to progressive massive fibrosis, a lung disease often linked to occupational exposure (like mining). It directly affects workers who develop this condition, allowing them to pursue or adjust compensation claims without being barred by past deadlines. The bill amends West Virginia's workers' compensation code to eliminate statute of limitations barriers specifically for these claims and adds a new impairment rating for progressive massive fibrosis. This change ensures affected workers can access benefits regardless of when symptoms first appeared or worsened.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves statute of limitations for workers' compensation claims related to occupational lung disease, protecting access to healthcare compensation for affected workers under West Virginia's workers' comp system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves statute of limitations for occupational lung disease claims, protecting workers' rights to seek compensation without time barriers under workers' compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 22, 2026

HB 4589: Clarifying that the time limitations provided for filing occupational pneumoconiosis claims do not apply or otherwise limit the ability of a claimant to obtain an evaluation from the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board

HB 4589 clarifies that time limits for filing occupational pneumoconiosis claims do not restrict when workers can seek medical evaluations from the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board. It directly affects coal miners and others diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (like black lung disease) who need to obtain board evaluations to pursue compensation. The bill explicitly states that standard claim filing deadlines (three years for diagnosis or exposure) do not apply to the evaluation process itself. This ensures claimants can access necessary medical assessments without being barred by the usual time limits for submitting formal claims.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves time limits preventing access to medical evaluations for black lung disease patients, improving healthcare access and protecting patient rights.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves time barriers for medical evaluations, enabling coal miners with pneumoconiosis to pursue compensation without being restricted by standard claim deadlines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

HB 4901: Modifying the Occupational Pneumoconiois award categories for Worker’s Compensation

HB 4901 modifies West Virginia's workers' compensation system to create a new award category for miners with occupational pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) who have pulmonary massive fibroids but no current breathing impairment. This change allows affected miners to file claims earlier, before symptoms develop, addressing a gap where future impairment would otherwise fall outside filing deadlines. The bill specifically establishes payment guidelines for this condition under Section 23-4-2 of the West Virginia Code. It directly affects coal miners diagnosed with early-stage pneumoconiosis who have not yet experienced respiratory symptoms. The key mechanism is the new compensation category, enabling timely benefits for a condition that may cause future health issues.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModifies workers' comp to expand coverage for black lung disease, enabling earlier medical claims and improving access to treatment for affected miners.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' comp benefits by creating new category for early claims of miners with black lung disease, protecting rights before symptoms develop.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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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 15, 2026

HB 4377: Relating to eligibility for workers' compensation benefits by requiring blood test after traumatic injury to determine intoxication

HB 4377 requires medical providers treating workers for workplace injuries to administer a blood test within 12 hours to check if the worker was drunk or high at the time of the injury. This applies to workers claiming benefits for traumatic injuries occurring during employment. If a worker refuses the test (after being given 15 minutes to reconsider), they lose all workers' compensation benefits for that injury. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts access to workers' comp benefits by denying coverage for refusal of blood test, weakening worker protections under the guise of intoxication checks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 20, 2026

HB 4595: Approving short-term training programs for eligibility for federal Workforce Pell Grants

HB 4595 would allow West Virginia to approve short-term job training programs for eligibility for federal Workforce Pell Grants. The bill requires the governor, working with the Workforce Development Board, to approve programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs (defined as those with earnings above 150% of the federal poverty level or identified in workforce projections). It establishes state rules for program approval and ensures alignment with federal requirements. This change would directly affect short-term training programs and their students seeking federal grant support for career-focused education. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by enabling short-term training programs to qualify for federal Workforce Pell Grants, aligning with higher education funding goals and workforce development needs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentApproves short-term training for high-wage jobs, aligning with federal grants to enhance workforce readiness and employment outcomes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Apprenticeships Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

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