ELKINS, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday ceremonially signed House Bill 4009, the Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act, creating a new framework that allows businesses to voluntarily contribute toward benefits for independent contractors without changing their employment status.
“This is another step forward as we build a stronger economy and create more opportunity in West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “As more companies invest here and more people choose independent work, our laws should encourage opportunity instead of standing in the way.”
The law enables companies to contribute to portable benefits such as health, disability, life, and income‑replacement insurance, as well as retirement savings. It clarifies that offering those benefits does not alter a worker’s independent contractor classification.
The legislation follows a period of record economic growth in West Virginia, with roughly $13 billion in private‑sector investment and more than 13,600 projected jobs announced since October. Morrisey said modernizing workforce laws will help the state remain competitive while expanding career options for independent workers.
“This commonsense reform removes an unnecessary legal barrier and gives businesses another way to support independent workers while preserving the flexibility they value,” Morrisey said.
Representatives from the Independent Women’s Forum, whose portable benefits framework helped inform the bill, joined the Governor for the ceremonial signing.
