VA HB238 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14)
Status: Passed on April 22 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-22 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1040)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14)
Status: Passed on April 22 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-22 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1040)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Summary
Labor and employment; payment of wages; minimum wage and overtime wages; misclassification of workers; prevailing wage rate; civil actions. Provides that an employer that violates provisions relating to minimum wage, overtime wages provisions, the misclassification of workers, or the prevailing wage rate is subject to civil actions for the applicable remedies, damages, or other relief available in an action brought pursuant to the civil action provisions currently available for the nonpayment of wages. Such provisions currently available provide that an employee may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover payment of the wages, and the court is required to award the wages owed, an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, plus prejudgment interest thereon, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. Under current law, if the court finds that the employer knowingly failed to pay wages to an employee, the court is required to award the employee an amount equal to triple the amount of wages due and reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill permits the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to refer matters relating to the bill's provisions to the Attorney General for enforcement through civil action.
Title
Minimum wage and overtime wages; payment, of wages, misclassification of workers, civil actions.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-04-22 - Senate - Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 18 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-22 - House - House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A) (Y: 64 N: 36 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-14 - Senate - Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 20 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-14 - House - Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 62 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-03-12 - Senate - Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-11 - House - Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 1-A) (Y: 0 N: 98 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2026-03-10 - Senate - Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-09 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-06 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Y: 10 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-02 - Senate - Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N) (Y: 8 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-02 - House - Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 64 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-27 - House - Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (Y: 15 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-22 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (Y: 5 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-04-22 - House - House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A) (Y: 64 N: 36 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-14 - Senate - Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 20 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-14 - House - Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 62 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-03-12 - Senate - Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-11 - House - Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 1-A) (Y: 0 N: 98 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2026-03-10 - Senate - Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-09 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-06 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Y: 10 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-02 - Senate - Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N) (Y: 8 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-02 - House - Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 64 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-27 - House - Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (Y: 15 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-22 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (Y: 5 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-22 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1040) | |
| 2026-04-22 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 1040 (effective 7/1/2026) | |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Signed by President |
| 2026-04-22 | House | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-04-22 | House | Reenrolled bill text (HB238ER2) |
| 2026-04-22 | House | Reenrolled |
| 2026-04-22 | Governor's recommendation adopted | |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A) |
| 2026-04-20 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/20/2026 4:21 pm) |
| 2026-04-16 | House | Substitute bill reprinted 26110450D |
| 2026-04-14 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 12:41 pm) |
| 2026-04-13 | Governor's recommendation received by House | |
| 2026-04-02 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238) |
| 2026-03-31 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 | |
| 2026-03-31 | House | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 |
| 2026-03-31 | House | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-03-30 | Senate | Signed by President |
| 2026-03-30 | House | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB238ER) |
| 2026-03-30 | House | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238) |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/14/2026 2:04 pm) |
| 2026-03-14 | Conference Report released | |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate Conferees: Surovell, McPike, Stuart |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Conferees appointed by Senate |
| 2026-03-12 | House | House Conferees: Lopez, Anthony, Garrett |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Conferees appointed by House |
| 2026-03-12 | House | House acceded to request |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate requested conference committee |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 1-A) |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Read third time |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238) |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/3/2026 3:58 pm) |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Committee substitute printed 26108602D-S1 |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N) |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238) |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/11/2026 4:09 pm) |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A) |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Delegate Lopez Floor amendments agreed to |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Delegate Lopez Floor amendments agreed to |
| 2026-01-30 | House | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Read second time |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Floor offered Delegate Lopez Amendments |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Floor offered Delegate Lopez Amendments |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Committee substitute printed 26105944D-H1 |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N) |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238) |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) |
| 2026-01-22 | House | House subcommittee offered |
| 2026-01-15 | House | Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2 |
| 2026-01-08 | House | Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce |
| 2026-01-08 | House | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104955D |
