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West Virginia Bill HB 4199 requires tipped employees to receive full state minimum wage hourly rate

Original title: Relating to requiring employees that receive gratuities be paid at least the established state minimum wage hourly rate.

Last action · January 14, 2026: To House FinanceSponsor: Sean Hornbuckle

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 4199 requires that employees who receive must be paid an hourly rate that, when combined with tips, equals at least the established state minimum wage for all hours worked.

Why it matters

Determines total compensation requirements and credit allowances for employers of tipped staff under state wage standards.

Background
  • Delegate Hornbuckle introduced House Bill 4199 during the 2026 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Employees that receive gratuities

Their combined hourly pay and gratuities must equal at least the established state minimum wage.

Directly affected

Employers

They are restricted in how much tip credit they can take and must provide documentary evidence to the commissioner upon request.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HB 4199 require for tipped employees?
It requires that employees who receive be paid an hourly rate which, when combined with tips received, is not less than the state minimum wage.
What credit can employers take regarding employee gratuities?
An employer may take a credit up to 70 percent of the minimum wage for all hours worked, contingent on the employee receiving pay and for each hour worked equal to or above the current minimum wage.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Finance
  2. Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Finance
  4. Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Connected Entities

West Virginia Legislature, Committee on Finance, Delegate Hornbuckle
OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“The legislative body considering the bill.”Map →
OrganizationCommittee on Finance“The House committee to which the bill was referred.”Map →
PersonDelegate Hornbuckle“Introduced the bill in the House.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
  • Controversy50
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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