Major Anti-Worker Bills Defeated
On April 13, the 60-day West Virginia 2025 Legislative Session came to a close, and it marked a major success for the West Virginia Building and Construction Trades (WVBCT). All proposed bills that could have harmed West Virginia’s union crafts and construction workforce were successfully stopped.
These included:
- Rollbacks on licensing regulations
- Cuts to unemployment benefits
- Attacks on wind energy projects
- Overreaching water use regulations that could have impacted future construction
STAND Program Secures Full FY2026 Funding
A major win came with the inclusion of full funding for the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Nontraditional Degree (STAND) Program in the FY2026 state budget (HB 2026). This $1,033,650 appropriation will cover associate degree tuition at West Virginia community and technical colleges for tradespeople who are currently enrolled in or have completed a U.S. Department of Labor–registered apprenticeship program.
Governor Patrick Morrisey signed the bill into law, with funds available starting July 1, 2025.
WVBCT Legislative Package Introduced
Three new bills backed by the WVBCT were introduced this session:
- The Local Government Freedom Act
- The Taxpayer Protection Act
- The West Virginia First Act
These bills sought to:
- Legalize the use of Project Labor Agreements on public projects
- Prevent the misclassification of workers
- Prioritize local workers through a strengthened West Virginia Jobs Act
While they did not pass in their first year, they laid the groundwork for future success and helped WVBCT tell its story to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Looking Ahead
“We are finally getting to a point where we are able to work with lawmakers to not only stop bad legislation but pass good legislation as well,” said George Capel, Government Relations Director for WVBCT.
The 2025 session showed that relationship-building and bipartisan collaboration are paying off for West Virginia’s trades.
