West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4025

Exempting Certain Employees in Health and Human Services Departments from Civil Service Rules

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

Starting July 1, 2026, new hires and promoted workers in three state health departments will no longer be part of the classified civil service system or have access to standard grievance procedures.

Removes most employees from the Department of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health from the classified civil service system beginning July 1, 2026.
Exempts these departments from state grievance procedures for new hires and promoted staff after that date.
Allows current employees to keep their existing civil service status and grievance rights as long as they stay in their current jobs.
Moves any employee who changes positions within these departments into the classified exempt system without access to standard grievance procedures.
Gives department secretaries the power to restore certain protections if federal laws or funding requirements demand it.

New hires and promoted employees in the Department of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health.
Current employees who change positions within these three departments after July 1, 2026.
Department secretaries responsible for managing staff status under federal requirements.

This law does not apply to positions appointed directly by the Governor.
Departments must still follow laws that ban nepotism, favoritism, discrimination, or other unethical practices in hiring and firing decisions.

Plain language

Classified civil service system: A set of rules that protects state employees from being fired without cause and provides specific steps for promotions and pay changes.
State grievance procedures: The official process an employee can use to file a complaint or appeal if they believe their rights were violated at work.
Classified exempt system: A status where employees do not have the same job protections and grievance rights as those in the classified civil service system.

Official record

Validated

Exempting certain employees from the classified civil service system

Official activity