Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 170
Protection of employees; covenants not to compete, discharged employees.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
Protection of employees; covenants not to compete; discharged employees. Provides that no covenant not to compete, as such term is defined in existing law, between an employer and an employee is enforceable if such employer discharges such employee from employment without providing severance benefits or other monetary payment to such employee that is disclosed upon execution of the covenant not to compete, unless the employee is discharged for cause. This bill incorporates SB 569.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 27, 2026 House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 24, 2026 House | Reported from Labor and Commerce | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 19, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 6, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 2, 2026 Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 883 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 14, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB170) - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 10, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB170ER) - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Passed House (87-Y 12-N 0-A) - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Read third time - Mar 3, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 27, 2026 · House
Reported from Appropriations (18-Y 4-N) - Feb 25, 2026 · House
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) - Feb 17, 2026 · House
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2 - Feb 12, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce - Feb 12, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 12, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB170) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Substitute bill reprinted 26107018D - Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26107018D-S1 - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (13-Y 0-N) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Incorporates SB569 (Sturtevant) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB170) - Jan 8, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor - Jan 8, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100309D