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Virginia2026Enacted

SB199

Paid Sick Leave for Virginia Workers

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 5:26 AM

In one sentence

This act requires private employers and state/local governments to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with certain exceptions.

What it does

  • Requires all employees to earn at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work.
  • Allows employees to use their sick leave for personal or family health issues, as well as situations related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.
  • Ensures that transferred employees keep the sick leave they have earned and can continue using it at a new location within the same company.
  • Gives employers the option to provide more generous paid sick leave policies than required by law.
  • Establishes penalties for employers who violate the rules.

Who it affects

  • All employees and private employers in Virginia.
  • State and local government workers and their employers.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens to unused sick leave when an employee leaves a job.
  • Some parts of the law will start on July 1, 2027, while others begin earlier or later based on the number of employees.

Plain language

Terms to know

Domestic partner
A person not younger than 18 years old who is dependent on an employee for support, has a close relationship with the employee, or has registered as the domestic partner of the employee.
Family member
Includes immediate family members like parents, children, spouses, and domestic partners, as well as extended family members such as grandparents and siblings.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Official summary

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 .

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1129 (Effective 7/1/2027)Governor
  2. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1129)Governor
  3. Communicated to GovernorSenate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026Governor
  5. Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate
  6. Governor's recommendation received by SenateGovernor
  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)Senate
  8. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Senate
  9. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
  10. Signed by SpeakerHouse
  11. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Senate
  12. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
  13. Signed by PresidentSenate
  14. EnrolledSenate
  15. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB199ER)Senate
  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB199)Senate
  17. Conference Report releasedConference
  18. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate
  19. Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 34-N 0-A)House
  20. Conferees appointed by HouseHouse

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

SB199AC

JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on Senate Bill No.

SB199G

(SB199) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110410D) be accepted.

SB199S3

2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26109811D SENATE BILL NO.

SB199S4

2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26110410D SENATE BILL NO.