West VirginiaFour hospitals' eligible workers can start retirement benefits earlier
West Virginia law lets certain workers at four named hospitals start retirement benefits before age 60 or 62 if they meet the other retirement rules.
What it does
Eligible workers at four named hospitals may start retirement benefits before the usual age threshold if they meet the other retirement rules. Tier 1 workers may count unused sick leave they had on October 31, 2025, toward service.
For health insurance coverage in retirement, eligible workers are treated as retiring directly from a participating public employer once they receive retirement benefits.
Argument forEligible hospital workers could receive retirement benefits sooner, and Tier 1 workers with unused sick leave may count it toward additional service.
Argument againstWorkers hired at these hospitals after October 31, 2025, may not qualify for this early retirement option, even if they later meet the age and service rules.
More detail
Eligible workers may begin receiving retirement benefits before reaching the usual age threshold. This covers Public Employees Retirement System members employed on October 31, 2025, at Hopemont Hospital, Jackie Withrow Hospital, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center, or Lakin State Hospital. They must turn 55 within one calendar year of that date and otherwise qualify for retirement. Workers must meet the other retirement rules apart from the age threshold. Tier 1 workers may count unused sick leave they had on October 31, 2025, toward additional retirement service. Benefits begin on the first day of the month after this section takes effect, or when the worker turns 55, whichever happens later.
For retirement health insurance coverage, eligible workers are considered to have retired directly from a participating public employer when they receive an annuity. This applies to the workers covered by this section. This treatment applies when they receive their retirement annuity.
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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 255, 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. 617)
- Mar 14Passed House (Roll No. 616)Passed House
- Mar 14Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 14On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 13On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Postponed on 2nd reading, Special Calendar, until 3/12/2026
- Mar 11On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 10Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 10Immediate consideration
- Mar 10Do pass
- Mar 2To FinanceMinor
- Feb 27To House FinanceMinor
- Feb 27Introduced in HouseMinor
- Feb 27House received Senate message
- Feb 26Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective from passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Effective from passage (Roll No. 246)
- Feb 26Passed Senate (Roll No. 245)Passed Senate
- Feb 26Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 26On 3rd reading
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 25On 2nd reading
- Feb 24Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 24On 1st reading
- Feb 23Committee substitute reported
- Feb 19To Pensions
- Feb 19Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 19To Pensions
- Feb 19Filed for introductionIntroduced
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