West VirginiaWest Virginia law directs 15 percent higher pay for unemployment judges
West Virginia law requires a 15 percent salary adjustment for three types of unemployment hearing judges, in addition to other adjustments approved for the 2027 budget.
What it does
The law requires a 15 percent salary adjustment for judges in three positions at the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, on top of other approved 2027 budget adjustments.
This salary provision gives no right to bring a private lawsuit over its implementation. Funding limits also exempt implementation from a separately referenced set of state rules.
Argument forHigher pay could help keep judges in these jobs, making timely hearings easier to provide for people seeking unemployment benefits.
Argument againstGiving judges no right to sue under this salary provision could limit their options for challenging how the adjustment is handled.
More detail
The law requires a 15 percent salary adjustment for covered unemployment hearing judges. It covers employees of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review who serve as Chief Administrative Law Judge, Administrative Law Judge 1, or Administrative Law Judge 2. The adjustment comes in addition to other salary adjustments approved during the 2026 regular session for the fiscal year 2027 budget. The section took effect upon passage on March 14, 2026. The adjustment uses salary levels in effect on that date.
This section creates no right to bring a private lawsuit based on its provisions or implementation. These limits apply to the salary provision and how it is carried out. Because of funding limits, implementation is exempt from the state rules referenced as §6C-2-1 and following.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 90, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 1Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026Major
- Mar 18To Governor 3/18/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded EFFECT FROM PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14Effective from passage (Roll No. 623)
- Mar 14Passed House (Roll No. 622)Passed House
- Mar 14Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 14On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 13On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 11Do pass
- Mar 5To House FinanceMinor
- Mar 5To FinanceMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in HouseMinor
- Mar 5House received Senate message
- Mar 4Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective from passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Effective from passage (Roll No. 352)
- Mar 4Passed Senate (Roll No. 351)Passed Senate
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading
- Mar 3Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2On 1st reading
- Feb 27Reported do passMinor
- Feb 23To FinanceMinor
- Feb 23Committee substitute reported, but first to FinanceMinor
- Feb 21To Workforce
- Feb 21Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 21To Workforce then Finance
- Feb 21Filed for introductionIntroduced
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