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Senate passes bill to transfer certain agencies’ new hires out of civil service; debate centers on protections and efficiency
Summary
House Bill 2013 moves new hires and employees who change positions in specified agencies into a classified-exempt system after July 1, 2025. Senators debated whether the change reduces employee protections or improves hiring flexibility. The bill passed 24–10.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate on April 7 passed Gross Committee Substitute for House Bill 2013, which moves new hires and employees who leave their positions in certain agencies into a classified-exempt personnel system after July 1, 2025.
“House bill 20 13 provides that as of 07/01/2025, all new hires within the Bureau of Senior Services and Departments of Administration, Environmental Protection, Revenue, and Veterans Assistance, as well as any employee within those governmental agencies that leaves his or her position will be exempt from the classified civil service and the state grievance procedures,” said Senator from Jefferson during floor debate.
Supporters said the change will increase flexibility and speed up hiring. Senator from Jefferson said at-will systems allow managers to reward and promote employees more quickly and argued the existing statutory protections against nepotism, discrimination and whistleblower retaliation remain in force.
Opponents said employees fear losing established grievance procedures and that the change could open the door to political patronage. The senator from Cabell warned that removing civil-service protections and grievance procedures could encourage nepotism and patronage.
On final passage the Senate voted 24 yeas and 10 nays. A subsequent vote made the bill effective July 1, 2025, by a 34–0 vote. The clerk will notify the House of the Senate’s action.
Why it matters: the bill narrows the classified civil service for the listed agencies by making new hires after the effective date classified-exempt, while keeping protections for current employees who remain in their positions. The change affects hiring, discipline and grievance procedures for employees in the named agencies and was debated at length on the floor.
