VirginiaPrivate companies providing public transportation services; employee protections, report.
What it does
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements.
More detail
Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 547.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Governor's recommendation received by SenateLatest
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB731ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 10Counties, Cities and Towns Substituteagreed to by Senate
- Vote recorded Concur House Amendments R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Passed House with substitute with amendments (62-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amendedMajor
- Mar 9Delegate Helmer Floor amendments agreed toMajor
- Mar 9committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 9Read third timeMinor
- Mar 9Floor offered Delegate Helmer Amendments
- Mar 6Read second timeMinor
- Mar 4Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 1Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108776D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)Minor
- Feb 27House committee offered
- Feb 20House committee offered
- Feb 20Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Feb 20Read first timeMinor
- Feb 20Placed on Calendar
- Feb 16Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 13Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 13Read second timeMinor
- Feb 12Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 12Rules suspended
- Feb 11Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Committee substitute printed 26107439D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 9Senate committee offered
- Jan 16Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Jan 16Presented and ordered printed 26104515DIntroduced