summary
Introduced
01/20/2026
01/20/2026
In Committee
01/20/2026
01/20/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
The purpose of this bill is to create a single cabinet-level Department of Workforce Services consolidating employment, rehabilitation, adult literacy, and public assistance work requirements (including the 80-hour federal Medicaid mandate) into one body effective July 1, 2027. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be superseded from present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
AI Summary
This bill, effective July 1, 2027, establishes a new cabinet-level Department of Workforce Services to consolidate various state programs related to employment, rehabilitation, adult education, and public assistance, including work requirements for programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), as well as the federal mandate for Medicaid recipients to work or engage in community activities for at least 80 hours per month. This reorganization aims to create a more unified system for workforce development and economic assistance, transferring functions from agencies like WorkForce West Virginia, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, and the Bureau for Family Assistance into this new department. The bill also creates a unified electronic system to track eligibility and work-requirement compliance across these programs, ensuring that meeting work requirements for one program automatically applies to others, and exempts individuals participating in full-time rehabilitation or adult education programs from additional work-reporting requirements.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (9)
Tristan Leavitt (R)*,
Adam Burkhammer (R),
Joe Funkhouser (R),
David Green (R),
Roger Hanshaw (R),
Chris Phillips (R),
Bill Ridenour (R),
Clay Riley (R),
Matthew Rohrbach (R),
Last Action
To House Government Organization (on 01/20/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4594&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill |
| Fiscal Note - Higher Education Policy Commission | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Fiscalnotes/FN(2)/fnsubmit_recordview1.cfm?RecordID=954409539 |
| Fiscal Note - Education, WV Department of | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Fiscalnotes/FN(2)/fnsubmit_recordview1.cfm?RecordID=954409516 |
| BillText | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4594%20intr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=4594 |
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