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HB 5655

Water and Wastewater operator education and experience requirements for certification.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathan Kyle

Clarifies that the first 2,000 hours of Class II experience count as 4,000 hours toward higher-class operator certifications (II–IV).

To House Government Organization
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Bill Summary · HB 5655

Summary of Bill HB 5655 (2026) – West Virginia

Purpose

HB 5655 aims to clarify and adjust the experience requirements for certification of water and wastewater system operators in West Virginia. The bill focuses on defining how hours of work in different classes of systems translate toward certification, ensuring consistency in operator qualifications.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Clarification of experience equivalency for operator certification

    • The bill reiterates the provision that if an operator’s first 2,000 hours of experience are in a Class II system (as defined by the secretary), those hours are equivalent to 4,000 hours on a Class I system for the purpose of obtaining Class II, III, or IV certification.
    • This “double-hour” equivalency appears in both the water and wastewater operator context within §16-1-4 and §16-1-9a.

  • Scope of regulatory authority remains aligned with public health rules

    • The bill references existing or proposed regulatory authority of the Secretary and Commissioner to establish rules related to drinking water, water systems, and related operator qualifications, without introducing broad new regulatory powers outside the current framework.

  • No new substantive changes to penalties or enforcement language (as written)

    • The bill text provided does not add new penalties or alter enforcement mechanics beyond the operator experience equivalency, though it operates within sections that already authorize penalties and compliance processes.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Public water systems and their operators in West Virginia, specifically:

    • Individuals seeking or maintaining Class II, III, or IV operator certifications for public water systems.
    • Water and wastewater system operators whose experience hours may be credited toward higher-class certifications under the clarified equivalency rule.

  • Regulatory bodies

    • State Secretary (public health rules related to land use, drinking water, and related health provisions) and the Commissioner regulating public water systems would continue to apply and enforce the existing education and experience requirements, now with a clarified equivalency standard.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced February 17, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Government Organization.
  • Action path: As a bill amending existing code sections (§16-1-4 and §16-1-9a), it would move through committee consideration, potential amendments, and floor passage before reaching the Governor for signature or veto.
  • Effective date: Not explicitly stated in the text provided; standard practice would be to apply upon enactment or as provided in the bill’s final enacted language.

Notes for Readers

  • The central, explicit change is the clarified equivalency for the first 2,000 hours of Class II experience counting as 4,000 hours toward higher-class certifications. This affects how quickly operators can qualify for advanced certifications based on early hands-on experience.
  • The overall framework of operator education, training, testing, and credentialing remains governed by the existing regulatory structure, with no broad policy shifts indicated beyond the clarified hours rule.

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

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