STATE BILLVA HB 494PASSED

Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government, certain former federal employees.

Commonwealth of Virginia

Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government; certain former federal employees. Allows for an applicant's status as a former federal employee to be given consideration when applying for employment with the Commonwealth if such applicant was terminated from a position of employment with the federal government on or after January 1, 2025, due to a reduction in the federal budget or initiatives put in place by the federal Department of Government Efficiency, provided that such person meets all of the knowledge, skill, and ability requirements for the available position. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management, on or before January 1 of each year, to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly that includes the number of job applications submitted by candidates who self-identified as former federal employees, as well as the number of jobs offered to such candidates. The bill has an expiration date of January 21, 2029.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
Apr 6, 2026
220 days ago
Current chamber
House of Delegates
Session
2026 Regular Session
VA HB 494 · PassedApr 6

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Bill details

Last action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0154) · Apr 6, 2026

Sponsors

EGElizabeth GuzmanRepresentative · Democrat · HD-031Primary sponsor
SAStacey Annie CarrollRepresentative · Democrat · HD-064
JCJoshua ColeRepresentative · Democrat · HD-028
JCJohn Chilton McAuliffRepresentative · Democrat · HD-030
KCKaren CarnegieRepresentative · Democrat · HD-089
NCNadarius ClarkRepresentative · Democrat · HD-084
RHRozia HensonRepresentative · Democrat · HD-019
PHPatrick HopeRepresentative · Democrat · HD-001
Show 3 more sponsors
MMMichelle MaldonadoRepresentative · Democrat · HD-020
CSCharlie SchmidtRepresentative · Democrat · HD-077
VTVirgil ThorntonRepresentative · Democrat · HD-086

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 6, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0154)
Apr 6, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 154 (effective 7/1/2026)
Mar 14, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Mar 14, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026House
Mar 12, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Mar 11, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Mar 11, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)House
Mar 11, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB494ER)House
Show 37 earlier actions
Mar 11, 2026EnrolledHouse
Mar 4, 2026Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)House
Mar 2, 2026Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 2, 2026Engrossed by Senate as amendedSenate
Mar 2, 2026General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed toSenate
Mar 2, 2026Read third timeSenate
Feb 27, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 27, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 27, 2026Rules suspendedSenate
Feb 25, 2026Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Senate
Feb 25, 2026Senate committee offeredSenate
Feb 17, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)House
Feb 16, 2026Referred to Committee on General Laws and TechnologySenate
Feb 16, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate
Feb 13, 2026Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)House
Feb 12, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amendedHouse
Feb 12, 2026Delegate Guzman Floor amendments agreed toHouse
Feb 12, 2026committee substitute agreed toHouse
Feb 12, 2026committee substitute rejectedHouse
Feb 12, 2026Read second timeHouse
Feb 12, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)House
Feb 12, 2026Floor offered Delegate Guzman AmendmentsHouse
Feb 11, 2026Read first timeHouse
Feb 9, 2026Committee substitute printed 26107309D-H2House
Feb 9, 2026Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)House
Feb 6, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)House
Feb 6, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse
Feb 5, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)House
Feb 3, 2026Committee substitute printed 26105902D-H1House
Feb 3, 2026Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital OutlayHouse
Feb 3, 2026Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)House
Jan 29, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 2-N)House
Jan 29, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse
Jan 22, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)House
Jan 19, 2026Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative ProcessHouse
Jan 12, 2026Referred to Committee on General LawsHouse
Jan 12, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102456DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 2-N)Jan 29, 2026 · House · 7 yea · 2 nayPassed
Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)Feb 3, 2026 · House · 15 yea · 6 nayPassed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)Feb 6, 2026 · House · 5 yea · 2 nayPassed
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)Feb 9, 2026 · House · 15 yea · 7 nayPassed
Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)Feb 13, 2026 · House · 61 yea · 35 nayPassed
Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Feb 25, 2026 · Senate · 9 yea · 6 nayPassed
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 27, 2026 · Senate · 37 yea · 0 nayPassed
Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 2, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed
Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)Mar 4, 2026 · House · 63 yea · 33 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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