Relating to authorizing the Board of Social Work to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the fee schedule.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Smith

The bill authorizes the Board of Social Work to create a legislative rule establishing and updating its fee schedule for licensure, renewal, and related regulatory actions.

To House Judiciary

#legislature--rulemaking

Summary of HB 4322 (Session 2026, West Virginia)

Purpose and Intent

The bill authorizes the Board of Social Work to promulgate a legislative rule that governs the board’s fee schedule.

In short, it seeks to establish or modify how the Board sets fees for its regulatory and professional activities through a formal rulemaking process.

Key Provisions and Changes

Authority to Promulgate Rule: The Board of Social Work would be empowered to adopt a legislative rule detailing the fee schedule the board uses for licensure, renewal, disciplinary actions, and other regulatory activities.

Scope of Fees: The rule could cover various fees charged by the Board, including, but not limited to, application fees, licensure fees, renewal fees, late fees, and any other charges tied to the Board’s regulatory functions.

Rulemaking Process: The bill enables the Board to undertake formal rulemaking to establish, adjust, or revise the fee schedule. This typically includes proposing the rule, seeking public comment, and submitting the rule to the appropriate state oversight or governmental body for approval as a legislative rule.

Compliance and Enforcement: Implicitly, once the rule is promulgated, the fees would be enforceable for persons seeking licensure, renewal, or related regulatory actions under the Board’s purview.

Who Would Be Affected

Primary: Licensed social workers, applicants for social work licensure, licensees seeking renewals, and institutions or individuals required to pay social work-related fees.

Secondary: The Board of Social Work itself in administering, collecting, and enforcing the fee schedule; and state regulators who oversee the rulemaking process.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

Legislative Path: The bill follows a standard process for authorizing regulatory rulemaking:

Introduction and referral to appropriate committees (Government Organization and Judiciary).
Potential committee hearings and amendments.
Passage by the House and Senate, and signing into law or gubernatorial approval as required.

Previous Actions (as noted):

Filed for introduction on 2026-01-14.
Placed in House Government Organization, then Judiciary; later moved to House Judiciary.
On 2026-01-30, the bill was reported as “Do pass, but first to Judiciary,” indicating it advanced through at least initial committee stages with a referral to Judiciary for further consideration.

Effective Date: Not specified in the provided text; typical outcomes would include an effective date upon enactment or upon rulemaking approval, with a transition period for existing fee structures.

Additional Context

Sponsorship: Co-sponsor named Doug Smith.

The bill is focused on regulatory finance, not on substantive changes to social work licensure standards or scope of practice, but rather on how the Board can update and implement its fee structure through a legislative rule.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, legal researchers, or practitioners) or compare it with current fee practices of the Board of Social Work.