VirginiaProtection of employees; stay or pay contracts prohibited, civil penalty.
What it does
Protection of employees; stay or pay contracts prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits an employer from entering into, enforcing, or threatening to enforce a stay or pay contract, as defined in the bill, with any employee, with certain exceptions described. An employer that violates the bill's provisions is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000.
More detail
The bill allows an employee to bring a civil action against an employer or other person that attempts to enforce a stay or pay contract and to seek appropriate relief, including enjoining the conduct of any person or employer, ordering payment of liquidated damages, and awarding lost compensation, damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill provides that if the court finds a violation of the bill's provisions, the plaintiff is entitled to recover reasonable costs, including reasonable fees for expert witnesses, and attorney fees.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 9Failed to report from Commerce and Labor with substitute (6-Y 9-N)Latest
- Vote recorded Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 9Senate committee offered
- Feb 12Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB923)
- Feb 10Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborMinor
- Feb 10Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 9Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Engrossed by House as amended
- Feb 6committee amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 5Read first timeMinor
- Feb 3Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 1-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29House subcommittee offered
- Jan 22Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2Minor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102468DIntroduced
- Mar 9Failed to report from Commerce and Labor with substitute (6-Y 9-N)Latest