VirginiaPrivate companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.
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 SB 731.
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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
- Apr 13Governor's recommendation received by HouseLatest
- Mar 14Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 14Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Minor
- Mar 13Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 13Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 13Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB547ER)Major
- Mar 13EnrolledMinor
- Mar 6Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 4Local Government Substitute agreed to
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 3Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 3Rules suspended
- Mar 3Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Feb 23Committee substitute printed 26108415D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 10Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 10Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 9Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Read second time and engrossedMinor
- Feb 5Read first timeMinor
- Feb 3Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Labor and Commerce. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 20Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2Minor
- Jan 19Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/19/2026 4:22 pm)
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100320DIntroduced