VA HB5 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 61)
Status: Passed on May 20 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-05-20 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1128)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 61)
Status: Passed on May 20 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-05-20 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1128)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Summary
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. 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 is identical to SB 199.
Title
Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-03-13 - Senate - Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 14-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 14 NV: 0 Abs: 5) [PASS]
2026-03-13 - House - Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 61 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2026-03-10 - Senate - Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-06 - House - Senate substitute rejected by House (3-Y 95-N 0-A) (Y: 3 N: 95 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [FAIL]
2026-03-04 - Senate - Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-03 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-03 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) (Y: 9 N: 5 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-23 - Senate - Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Y: 9 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-16 - House - Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 63 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-02-06 - House - Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (Y: 15 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 1-N) (Y: 5 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-27 - House - Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (Y: 15 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-22 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 2-N) (Y: 5 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-13 - House - Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 61 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2026-03-10 - Senate - Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-06 - House - Senate substitute rejected by House (3-Y 95-N 0-A) (Y: 3 N: 95 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [FAIL]
2026-03-04 - Senate - Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-03 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-03 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) (Y: 9 N: 5 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-23 - Senate - Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Y: 9 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-16 - House - Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 63 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-02-06 - House - Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (Y: 15 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 1-N) (Y: 5 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-27 - House - Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (Y: 15 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-22 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 2-N) (Y: 5 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-20 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1128) | |
| 2026-05-20 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 1128 (Effective 7/1/2027) | |
| 2026-04-23 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 | |
| 2026-04-23 | House | Communicated to Governor |
| 2026-04-23 | House | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-04-22 | House | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-04-12 | Governor's Recommendation | |
| 2026-04-12 | Governor's recommendation received by House | |
| 2026-04-02 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB5) |
| 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 (HB5ER) |
| 2026-03-30 | House | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB5) |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 14-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-13 | Conference Report released | |
| 2026-03-12 | House | House Conferees: Convirs-Fowler, Feggans, Wilt |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Conferees appointed by House |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate Conferees: Favola, Deeds, Peake |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Conferees appointed by Senate |
| 2026-03-11 | House | House acceded to request |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate requested conference committee |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House (3-Y 95-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Read third time |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB5) |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Committee substitute printed 26108316D-S1 |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB5) |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB5) |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Engrossed by House as amended |
| 2026-02-12 | House | committee amendments agreed to |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Read second time |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 1-N) |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB5) |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 2-N) |
| 2026-01-15 | House | Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2 |
| 2025-11-17 | House | Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce |
| 2025-11-17 | House | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102001D |
