Back to Virginia

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
2026-04-22
Official status
Awaiting Governor's Action
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify the exact nature of reasonable accommodations required by employers.

Virginia Human Rights Act; Reasonable Accommodation for Menopause

This act adds protections against discrimination based on menopause or perimenopause in Virginia, requires a study by labor and health officials to examine existing policies and best practices related to menopause accommodations in employment environments, and mandates the publication of findings.

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.
  • Directs labor and health officials to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments, including existing policies and best practices.
  • Requires the submission of a report by July 1, 2028, detailing findings and recommendations related to menopause accommodations in employment environments.
  • Publishes the report on the Department of Labor and Industry's website.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employees who experience menopause or perimenopause
  • Employers required to provide reasonable accommodations (nature not specified)
  • Labor and health officials conducting the study

Terms To Know

Menopause
The time in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles stop permanently, usually occurring around age 50.
Perimenopause
The transitional period before menopause when hormone levels start to change and menstrual cycles become irregular.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact nature of reasonable accommodations required by employers.
  • It does not provide penalties for non-compliance with accommodation requirements.

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

  1. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  2. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Communicated to Governor

  3. 2026-04-22 Governor

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

  4. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  5. 2026-04-11 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  6. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  7. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  8. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  9. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  10. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  11. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB258)

  12. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  13. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Enrolled

  14. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB258ER)

  15. 2026-03-11 General Laws

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB258)

  16. 2026-03-10 Senate

    House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-03-06 House

    Read third time

  18. 2026-03-06 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  19. 2026-03-06 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  20. 2026-03-06 House

    Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-03-05 House

    Read second time

  22. 2026-03-03 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

  23. 2026-03-03 General Laws

    Committee substitute printed 26108750D-H1

  24. 2026-02-26 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 2-N)

  25. 2026-02-26 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

    House subcommittee offered

  26. 2026-02-23 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

    Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

  27. 2026-02-19 Health and Human Services

    Referred from Health and Human Services and referred to General Laws (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB258)

  29. 2026-02-03 House

    Placed on Calendar

  30. 2026-02-03 House

    Read first time

  31. 2026-02-03 Health and Human Services

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

  32. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  33. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Read second time

  34. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate

  35. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Rules suspended

  36. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  37. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  38. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  39. 2026-01-21 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)

  40. 2026-01-12 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103055D

  41. 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
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. 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.