West Virginia Senate Bill SB 376

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/26
• Refer: 1/15/26

Caption

Division of Labor rule relating to child labor

Summary

SB 376 is a bill relating to the Division of Labor’s child labor rules. Based on the caption, the measure appears to address administrative rules governing the employment of minors in West Virginia, likely updating, clarifying, or otherwise revising the state labor agency’s authority or regulations in this area. The bill text was not available in the provided materials, so the precise substantive changes cannot be confirmed from the record supplied. In general, a bill of this type would affect employers, minors, parents or guardians, and the Division of Labor by changing how child labor standards are interpreted or enforced. Depending on the rule changes, it could touch issues such as permissible work hours, hazardous occupations, work permits, age verification, or exemptions for certain types of employment. Because the bill is tied to a Division of Labor rule, its impact would likely be on state administrative law and enforcement rather than creating a wholly new statutory scheme.

Impact

SB 376 would likely affect West Virginia labor law by modifying or authorizing changes to the Division of Labor’s child labor regulations. The practical effect would be on the agency’s rulemaking and enforcement authority, and on employers who hire minors, who would need to comply with any revised standards. Any changes could also influence how child labor protections are applied across industries that employ young workers.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the supplied materials. The bill’s caption suggests a routine labor-regulatory measure, which often draws interest from both child welfare advocates and employers, but the available record does not show whether the proposal was controversial or broadly accepted. The only visible action is that it was reported in committee substitute form, indicating it advanced through at least one committee stage.

Contention

Without transcripts or recorded votes, specific points of contention cannot be identified from the provided materials. In bills concerning child labor rules, likely areas of disagreement would include whether the state should tighten protections for minors or provide employers more flexibility, and how strictly hazardous work, hours limits, and exemptions should be regulated. However, no particular side or stakeholder position is documented here.