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Virginia2026Enacted

HB627

Health Care Professionals Protection from Non-Compete Agreements

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 5:26 AM

In one sentence

This act adds health care professionals to a list of employees who cannot have non-compete agreements with their employers and sets penalties for violating this rule.

What it does

  • Adds health care professionals as a group that cannot enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce non-compete agreements with their employers.
  • Defines 'health care professional' as someone licensed, registered, or certified by specific Virginia boards like Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, and Social Work.
  • Sets a civil penalty of $10,000 for each violation if an employer breaks the rule against non-compete agreements with health care professionals.

Who it affects

  • Health care professionals who work under employment contracts.
  • Employers of health care professionals.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact date it will take effect.
  • It is unclear how this law will be enforced and monitored by regulatory bodies.

Plain language

Terms to know

Covenant not to compete
An agreement that stops an employee from working for a competitor after leaving their job.
Health care professional
A person licensed, registered, or certified by specific Virginia boards in health-related fields.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Official summary

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 SB 128.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1113 (effective 7/1/2026)Governor
  2. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1113)Governor
  3. Governor's recommendation adoptedGovernor
  4. Signed by SpeakerHouse
  5. Signed by PresidentSenate
  6. Communicated to GovernorHouse
  7. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026Governor
  8. ReenrolledHouse
  9. Reenrolled bill text (HB627ER2)House
  10. Governor's amendment no. 1 agreed to (96-Y 3-N 0-A)House
  11. Governor's amendment no. 2 passed byHouse
  12. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
  13. Governor's recommendation received by HouseGovernor
  14. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)House
  15. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House
  16. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
  17. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House
  18. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
  19. Signed by SpeakerHouse
  20. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

HB627G

(HB627) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

HB627AHC1

OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 1/29/2026 HB 627 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.

HB627AHC2

1/30/2026 HB 627 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.

HB627AH1

2/03/2026 HB 627 LABOR AND COMMERCE 1.