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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 199

Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.

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

Sponsors

Cosponsors (19)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

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 incorporates SB 372 and is identical to HB 5.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:01 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 13, 2026
Senate
Adopt Conference Committee Report RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 13, 2026
House
H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 10, 2026
Senate
Accede Conference Committee RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 5, 2026
Senate
Concur House Substitute RfailSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 3, 2026
House
H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 26, 2026
House
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 17, 2026
Senate
Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 13, 2026
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 12, 2026
Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 2, 2026
Senate
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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