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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 547

Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (3)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

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. 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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 6, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 4, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 3, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 3, 2026
Senate		Reported from Finance and AppropriationspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 23, 2026
Senate		Reported from Local Government with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 9, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 3, 2026
House		Reported from Labor and CommercepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reportingpassSet your home in Virginia to see

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