West VirginiaWest Virginia health departments exempt some employees from civil service rules
Starting July 1, 2026, three West Virginia health departments exempt employees from civil service and grievance rules, while workers with current protections keep them as long as they stay in their jobs.
What it does
Starting July 1, 2026, employees in three state health departments are exempt from civil service and grievance rules, while workers with current protections keep them as long as they stay in their jobs.
Employees who leave their jobs but stay in the covered departments or listed state agencies move to exempt status and lose access to state grievance procedures, subject to federal requirements and exceptions.
Argument forDepartment leaders could have more flexibility to promote, transfer, discipline, or compensate workers, which may help attract and keep employees.
Argument againstEmployees who change jobs and stay in covered state departments could lose access to grievance procedures for challenging workplace decisions.
More detail
Starting July 1, 2026, employees in the three departments are exempt from the classified civil service system and state grievance procedures. This covers employees of the Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health. Employees who already have civil service status or grievance access keep it while they remain in their current jobs. The exemption does not apply to positions appointed by the Governor. Department secretaries may designate employee status as needed to meet federal law, federal rules, or requirements for federal funding or assistance. The departments must still follow rules against nepotism, favoritism, discrimination, and unethical employment practices. The exemption begins July 1, 2026.
Employees who leave a job in one of the three departments and remain state employees in the listed departments or agencies transfer to the classified exempt service and lose access to state grievance procedures. This applies to employees who leave a position in one of the three departments and remain state employees in a department or government body listed in the law. A department secretary may designate employee status differently when needed to meet federal law, federal rules, or requirements for federal funding or assistance. This provision does not apply to positions appointed by the Governor. The transfer applies beginning July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter 138, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 30Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026Major
- Mar 25To Governor 3/25/26To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - Senate JournalMajor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE-SENATE AMENDED HB. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - House JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 670)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 13Senate requests House to concur
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 527)Passed Senate
- Mar 13Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 13Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 13On 3rd reading with right to amend
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12Immediate consideration
- Mar 12Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendmentMinor
- Mar 11On 2nd reading, rereferred to JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 11Without recommendation, but first rereferred to JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5To JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5To JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in SenateMinor
- Mar 4Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded EFFECT Jul 01, 2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Effective date rejected (Roll No. 282)
- Mar 4Passed House (Roll No. 281)Passed House
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 27By substitute, do pass
- Feb 5Markup Discussion
- Jan 15To House Government OrganizationMinor
- Jan 15Introduced in HouseMinor
- Jan 15To Government OrganizationMinor
- Jan 15Filed for introductionIntroduced
Government & Ethics