STATE BILLVA SB 128PASSED

Covenants not to compete; includes health care professionals, civil penalty.

Commonwealth of Virginia

Covenants not to compete; health care professionals; civil penalty. Adds health care professionals as a category of employee with or upon whom no employer shall enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce a covenant not to compete. The bill defines "health care professional" as any person licensed, registered, or certified by the Board of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, or Social Work. The bill provides that any employer that violates the prohibition against covenants not to compete with a health care professional is subject to the civil penalty in current law of $10,000 for each violation. This bill is identical to HB 627.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
May 14, 2026
182 days ago
Current chamber
Senate
Session
2026 Regular Session
VA SB 128 · PassedMay 14

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Bill details

Last action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1114) · May 14, 2026

Sponsor

SVSchuyler VanValkenburgSenator · Democrat · SD-016Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

May 14, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1114)
May 14, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 1114 (effective 7/1/2026)
Apr 22, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
Apr 22, 2026Communicated to GovernorSenate
Apr 22, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Apr 22, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Apr 22, 2026Reenrolled bill text (SB128ER2)Senate
Apr 22, 2026ReenrolledSenate
Show 38 earlier actions
Apr 22, 2026Governor's recommendation adopted
Apr 22, 2026Governor's amendment no. 1 agreed to (97-Y 1-N 0-A)House
Apr 22, 2026Governor's recommendation No. 2 passed by (Voice Vote)Senate
Apr 22, 2026Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation No. 1 (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Apr 11, 2026Governor's recommendation received by Senate
Mar 14, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Mar 14, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Senate
Mar 12, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Mar 12, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Mar 12, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB128)Senate
Mar 12, 2026Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB128ER)Senate
Mar 12, 2026EnrolledSenate
Mar 6, 2026Passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)House
Mar 6, 2026Read third timeHouse
Mar 5, 2026Read second timeHouse
Feb 26, 2026Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 1-N)House
Feb 18, 2026Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceHouse
Feb 18, 2026Read first timeHouse
Feb 18, 2026Placed on CalendarHouse
Feb 13, 2026Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 12, 2026Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 12, 2026Read second timeSenate
Feb 11, 2026Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Senate
Feb 10, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB128)Senate
Feb 9, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB128)Senate
Feb 5, 2026Rereferred to Finance and AppropriationsSenate
Feb 5, 2026Motion to rerefer to Finance and Appropriations agreed toSenate
Feb 5, 2026Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed toSenate
Feb 5, 2026Read second timeSenate
Feb 4, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 4, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 4, 2026Rules suspendedSenate
Feb 3, 2026Committee substitute printed 26106892D-S1Senate
Feb 2, 2026Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (13-Y 0-N)Senate
Feb 2, 2026Senate committee offeredSenate
Feb 2, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB128)Senate
Jan 6, 2026Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborSenate
Jan 6, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100840DSenate

Recorded votes

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 4, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (13-Y 0-N)Feb 2, 2026 · Senate · 13 yea · 0 nayPassed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Feb 11, 2026 · Senate · 15 yea · 0 nayPassed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 13, 2026 · Senate · 39 yea · 0 nayPassed
Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 1-N)Feb 26, 2026 · House · 20 yea · 1 nayPassed
Passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)Mar 6, 2026 · House · 92 yea · 6 nayPassed
Governor's amendment no. 1 agreed to (97-Y 1-N 0-A)Apr 22, 2026 · House · 97 yea · 1 nayPassed
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation No. 1 (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Apr 22, 2026 · Senate · 39 yea · 0 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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