VirginiaEmployment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.
What it does
Employment; paid sick leave; civil penalties; civil actions. Requires one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked for all employees of private employers and state and local governments, with certain exceptions. The bill requires that employees who are employed and compensated on a fee-for-service basis accrue paid sick leave in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
More detail
The bill provides that employees transferred to a separate division or location remain entitled to previously accrued paid sick leave and that employees retain their accrued paid sick leave under any successor employer. The bill allows employers to provide a more generous paid sick leave policy than prescribed by its provisions and specifies that employees, in addition to using paid sick leave for their physical or mental illness or to care for a family member, may use paid sick leave to seek or obtain certain services or to relocate or secure an existing home due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. The bill requires the Commissioner to promulgate regulations for the implementation and enforcement of the bill's provisions by July 1, 2027. The bill authorizes the Commissioner, in the case of a knowing violation, to subject an employer to a civil penalty not to exceed $150 for the first violation, $300 for the second violation, and $500 for each successive violation. The Commissioner or Attorney General may commence administrative proceedings or bring a civil action to enforce the bill's provisions. Additionally, the bill authorizes an aggrieved employee to bring a civil action against the employer in which he may recover double the amount of any unpaid sick leave and the amount of any actual damages suffered as the result of the employer's violation. Certain provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill incorporates SB 372 and is identical to HB 5.
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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
- Apr 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)
- 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 (SB199ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 23Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 34-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12House Conferees: Convirs-Fowler, Feggans, Wilt
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 10Senate Conferees: Favola, Deeds, Peake
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 10Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 6House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 6House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 5House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 39-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 3Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 3committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 3Read third timeMinor
- Mar 2Read second timeMinor
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108742D-H1Major
- Feb 26Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceMinor
- Feb 24Read first timeMinor
- Feb 24Placed on Calendar
- Feb 18Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)
- Feb 17Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 16Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- Feb 16Commerce and Labor Substitute rejected
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Committee substitute printed 26107940D-S2Major
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Passed by for the day
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 13Rules suspended
- Feb 12Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Committee substitute printed 26107021D-S1Major
- Feb 2Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2Incorporates SB372 (Carroll Foy)
- Feb 2Senate committee offered
- Jan 28Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)
- Jan 9Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborMinor
- Jan 9Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104816DIntroduced