STATE BILLVA HB 238PASSED

Minimum wage and overtime wages; payment, of wages, misclassification of workers, civil actions.

Commonwealth of Virginia

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.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
Apr 22, 2026
204 days ago
Current chamber
Senate
Session
2026 Regular Session
VA HB 238 · PassedApr 22

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Bill details

Last action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1040) · Apr 22, 2026

Sponsors

ALAlfonso LopezRepresentative · Democrat · HD-003Primary sponsor
EBElizabeth Bennett-ParkerSenator · Democrat · SD-005
BCBetsy CarrRepresentative · Democrat · HD-078
RCRae CousinsRepresentative · Democrat · HD-079
RHRozia HensonRepresentative · Democrat · HD-019
PHPhil HernandezRepresentative · Democrat · HD-094
KKKaren Keys-GamarraRepresentative · Democrat · HD-007
DLDestiny LeVere BollingRepresentative · Democrat · HD-080
Show 6 more sponsors
AMAdele McClureRepresentative · Democrat · HD-002
LCLeslie Chambers MehtaRepresentative · Democrat · HD-073
KPKimberly Pope AdamsRepresentative · Democrat · HD-082
MPMarcia PriceRepresentative · Democrat · HD-085
ISIrene ShinRepresentative · Democrat · HD-008
KTKathy TranRepresentative · Democrat · HD-018

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 22, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1040)
Apr 22, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 1040 (effective 7/1/2026)
Apr 22, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Apr 22, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Apr 22, 2026Reenrolled bill text (HB238ER2)House
Apr 22, 2026ReenrolledHouse
Apr 22, 2026Governor's recommendation adopted
Apr 22, 2026Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate
Show 58 earlier actions
Apr 22, 2026House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)House
Apr 20, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/20/2026 4:21 pm)House
Apr 16, 2026Substitute bill reprinted 26110450DHouse
Apr 14, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 12:41 pm)House
Apr 13, 2026Governor's recommendation received by House
Apr 2, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)House
Mar 31, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Mar 31, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House
Mar 31, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Mar 30, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Mar 30, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB238ER)House
Mar 30, 2026EnrolledHouse
Mar 23, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)House
Mar 14, 2026Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 14, 2026Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)House
Mar 14, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/14/2026 2:04 pm)House
Mar 14, 2026Conference Report released
Mar 12, 2026Senate Conferees: Surovell, McPike, StuartSenate
Mar 12, 2026Conferees appointed by SenateSenate
Mar 12, 2026House Conferees: Lopez, Anthony, GarrettHouse
Mar 12, 2026Conferees appointed by HouseHouse
Mar 12, 2026House acceded to requestHouse
Mar 12, 2026Senate requested conference committeeSenate
Mar 12, 2026Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 11, 2026Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 1-A)House
Mar 10, 2026Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 10, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteSenate
Mar 10, 2026Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed toSenate
Mar 10, 2026Read third timeSenate
Mar 9, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate
Mar 9, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 9, 2026Rules suspendedSenate
Mar 6, 2026Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)Senate
Mar 6, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)House
Mar 3, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/3/2026 3:58 pm)House
Mar 3, 2026Committee substitute printed 26108602D-S1Senate
Mar 2, 2026Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)Senate
Feb 13, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)House
Feb 11, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/11/2026 4:09 pm)House
Feb 3, 2026Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborSenate
Feb 3, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate
Feb 2, 2026Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)House
Jan 30, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amendedHouse
Jan 30, 2026Delegate Lopez Floor amendments agreed toHouse
Jan 30, 2026Delegate Lopez Floor amendments agreed toHouse
Jan 30, 2026committee substitute agreed toHouse
Jan 30, 2026Read second timeHouse
Jan 30, 2026Floor offered Delegate Lopez AmendmentsHouse
Jan 30, 2026Floor offered Delegate Lopez AmendmentsHouse
Jan 29, 2026Read first timeHouse
Jan 27, 2026Committee substitute printed 26105944D-H1House
Jan 27, 2026Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N)House
Jan 27, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)House
Jan 22, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)House
Jan 22, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse
Jan 15, 2026Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2House
Jan 8, 2026Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceHouse
Jan 8, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104955DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)Jan 22, 2026 · House · 5 yea · 2 nayPassed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N)Jan 27, 2026 · House · 15 yea · 7 nayPassed
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)Feb 2, 2026 · House · 64 yea · 35 nayPassed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)Mar 2, 2026 · Senate · 8 yea · 6 nayPassed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)Mar 6, 2026 · Senate · 10 yea · 4 nayPassed
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 9, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 10, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 1-A)Mar 11, 2026 · House · 0 yea · 98 nayFailed
Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 12, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed
Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)Mar 14, 2026 · House · 62 yea · 35 nayPassed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 14, 2026 · Senate · 20 yea · 19 nayPassed
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)Apr 22, 2026 · House · 64 yea · 36 nayPassed
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Apr 22, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 18 nayPassed

Read the bill at the source

This page follows the bill as the legislature records it. For the bill's full text and the official record, use the legislature's own site.

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