SB258 • 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.

Labor

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Pekarsky
Last action: 2026-05-19
Official status: Governor's Veto
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the Governor, which means it did not become law.

Virginia Human Rights Act; Protection Against Menopause Discrimination

This act aims to prevent discrimination based on menopause or perimenopause in Virginia and requires a study on workplace accommodations for these conditions.

What This Bill Does

Adds protection against discrimination related to menopause or perimenopause under the Virginia Human Rights Act.
Directs state labor officials to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce, including existing policies and best practices.

Who It Names or Affects

Employees who experience menopause or perimenopause
State labor officials required to conduct a study

Terms To Know

Menopause: The time when a woman's menstrual cycles stop permanently, usually occurring in the late forties or early fifties.
Perimenopause: The period leading up to menopause during which women may experience symptoms and changes due to fluctuating hormone levels.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the Governor on May 19, 2026.
It is unclear if or when similar protections will be implemented in Virginia.

Amendments

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

SB258G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (SB258) 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 (26110292D) be accepted.

(SB258) 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 (26110292D) be accepted.

SB258S1

2026-04-14 • Governor

Governor Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26110292D SENATE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 26110292D SENATE BILL NO.
258 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Governor on April 11, 2026) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Pekarsky) 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

2026-05-19 Senate
Governor's Veto Received by Senate
2026-05-19 Governor
Vetoed by Governor
2026-04-22 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-04-22 Senate
Communicated to Governor
2026-04-22 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
2026-04-22 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-04-11 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
2026-03-31 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB258)
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-30 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB258ER)
2026-03-11 General Laws
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB258)
2026-03-10 Senate
House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 House
Read third time
2026-03-06 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-03-06 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-03-06 House
Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-03-05 House
Read second time
2026-03-03 General Laws
Reported from General Laws with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
2026-03-03 General Laws
Committee substitute printed 26108750D-H1
2026-02-26 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 2-N)
2026-02-26 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-23 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
2026-02-19 Health and Human Services
Referred from Health and Human Services and referred to General Laws (Voice Vote)
2026-02-10 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB258)
2026-02-03 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-03 House
Read first time
2026-02-03 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
2026-01-27 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-01-26 Senate
Read second time
2026-01-26 Senate
Engrossed by Senate
2026-01-23 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-01-23 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-01-23 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-23 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-21 General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)
2026-01-12 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103055D
2026-01-12 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

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 HB 1173.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

(SB258)
GOVERNOR'S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 258, which would insert menopause and perimenopause as protected categories in the Virginia Human Rights Act alongside race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or military status.
For too long, menopause and perimenopause have been inadequately studied, their impacts on women's health overlooked and treatment for symptoms underfunded — leaving many women without healthcare options or treatment for symptoms. As such, I was proud to sign legislation requiring mandatory insurance coverage for medically necessary menopause and perimenopause-related treatments.
Under the Virginia Human Rights Act, women experiencing menopause or perimenopause are protected from workplace discrimination based on existing protections for age and gender. As we consider whether to explicitly add menopause and perimenopause to the list of named, protected categories, my amendments to this bill would have required a study to better understand the potential impacts of doing so.
While the General Assembly rejected these amendments, I look forward to working with the bill's patron in the future to ensure Virginia is leading on issues of women's health.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.