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HB1173 • 2026

Virginia Human Rights Act; reasonable accommodation for known limitations related to menopause.

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3900, 2.2-3901, 2.2-3902, 2.2-3904, 2.2-3905, and 2.2-3909 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Human Rights Act; menopause or perimenopause; discrimination prohibited; reasonable accommodations; report.

Healthcare Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Tran
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
Awaiting Governor's Action
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about who will conduct the study, only that it involves state labor officials in consultation with health officials.

Virginia Human Rights Act; Reasonable Accommodation for Menopause

This act adds protections against discrimination based on menopause or perimenopause in Virginia, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations, and mandates a study on menopause-related issues in the workplace.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds menopause and perimenopause as protected categories under the Virginia Human Rights Act for purposes of nondiscrimination in government programs, public accommodation, employment hiring, and reasonable employer accommodation.
  • Requires employers to make reasonable adjustments for employees experiencing menopause or perimenopause.
  • Directs state labor officials to research menopause-related challenges in the workforce and develop best practices for workplace accommodations.
  • Calls for a report on menopause and perimenopause issues, including health insurance coverage and access to healthcare professionals, to be submitted by July 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employees who experience menopause or perimenopause
  • Employers required to provide reasonable accommodations

Terms To Know

Menopause
The time in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles stop permanently, typically occurring around age 50.
Perimenopause
The transitional period leading up to menopause during which hormone levels fluctuate and menstruation becomes irregular.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact nature of reasonable accommodations required by employers.
  • The effectiveness of the study's recommendations depends on future implementation and enforcement.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1173G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB1173) 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 (26110333D) be accepted.

  • (HB1173) 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 (26110333D) be accepted.
HB1173H1

2026-04-13 • Governor

Governor Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110333D HOUSE BILL NO.

  • 2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110333D HOUSE BILL NO.
  • 1173 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Governor on April 11, 2026) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Tran) A BILL to direct the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce and employment environments.
  • Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
  • § 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 House

    Communicated to Governor

  2. 2026-04-23 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  3. 2026-04-23 House

    Passed by for the day

  4. 2026-04-22 House

    Passed by for the day

  5. 2026-04-11 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by House

  6. 2026-03-25 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  8. 2026-03-16 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1173)

  9. 2026-03-14 House

    Signed by Speaker

  10. 2026-03-14 Senate

    Signed by President

  11. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled

  12. 2026-03-14 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1173ER)

  13. 2026-03-09 House

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 34-N 1-A)

  14. 2026-03-06 Commerce and Labor

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1173)

  15. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Read third time

  16. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  17. 2026-03-05 Commerce and Labor

    Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

  18. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

  19. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Rules suspended

  20. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Rules suspended

  21. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Rules suspended

  22. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  23. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  25. 2026-03-03 Commerce and Labor

    Committee substitute printed 26108761D-S1

  26. 2026-03-02 Commerce and Labor

    Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 5-N)

  27. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  28. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  29. 2026-02-18 Commerce and Labor

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  30. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

  31. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  32. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  33. 2026-02-12 Labor and Commerce

    Reported from Labor and Commerce (14-Y 5-N)

  34. 2026-02-12 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 1-N)

  35. 2026-02-11 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1173)

  36. 2026-01-27 Subcommittee #2

    Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2

  37. 2026-01-14 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105214D

  38. 2026-01-14 Labor and Commerce

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

Official Summary Text

Virginia Human Rights Act; menopause or perimenopause; discrimination prohibited; report.
Prohibits discrimination under the Virginia Human Rights Act on the basis of menopause or perimenopause for purposes of nondiscrimination in government programs, public accommodation, employment hiring, and reasonable employer accommodation. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce, menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments, and the scope of existing menopause-related and perimenopause-related policies and to develop best practices related to menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments. The bill directs the Commissioners to submit such report to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2028, and to post such report on the Department of Labor and Industry's website. This bill is identical to SB 258.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1173
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Governor
on April 11, 2026)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Tran)
A BILL to direct the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce and employment environments.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce, menopause-related and perimenopause-related accommodations in employment environments, and the scope of existing menopause-related and perimenopause-related policies, including health insurance coverage and therapeutic treatments for menopause-related and perimenopause-related symptoms, access to health care professionals for menopause-related and perimenopause-related matters, menopause and perimenopause awareness policies, and health care spending accounts that can be used for menopause-related and perimenopause-related benefits and services. In conducting such study, the Commissioners shall develop best practices for menopause-related and perimenopause-related accommodations in employment environments. No later than July 1, 2028, the Commissioners shall submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly and shall publish such report on the Department of Labor and Industry's website.