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HB 4005

Skills to work

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Bell and 9 co-sponsors

West Virginia bill clarifies which jobs and apprenticeships teenagers can legally work in, balancing youth workforce development opportunities with labor protections.

Chapter 120, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
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Bill Summary · HB 4005

Legislative bill overview

HB 4005 establishes new rules about what types of jobs teenagers under 18 can legally work in West Virginia and defines which apprenticeships are allowed or prohibited for youth in those job categories. The bill aims to update and clarify existing child labor regulations while potentially expanding workforce development opportunities through apprenticeships.

Why is this important

Child labor laws directly affect thousands of West Virginia teenagers seeking employment and shape how businesses can hire young workers. The bill's clarifications could either expand job opportunities for youth or restrict access depending on how the prohibited/authorized categories are defined in the final language. This impacts both economic participation for young people and protections against potentially unsafe working conditions.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "prohibited" categories — Labor advocates may worry the bill loosens protections for minors in hazardous work, while businesses may feel restrictions are too limiting
  • Apprenticeship flexibility — Disagreement over whether youth apprenticeships should be broadly authorized to boost workforce development or narrowly restricted to protect education and safety
  • Enforcement and definitions — The bill's effectiveness depends heavily on specific category definitions, which aren't yet available, making it difficult to assess actual impact without seeing the full text

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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