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Panel advances bill to harmonize wage-theft remedies, extend limitations for civil-rights claims
Summary
HB 2,561 would harmonize damages and procedures across Virginia wage-theft laws, set a three-year statute of limitations for wage claims and misclassification, and extend human-rights act time limits; the panel reported the bill with broad support from labor groups and little opposition.
Chair Lopez and Delegate LeVar Bolling (chairing portions of the hearing) presented HB 2,561, a package to harmonize and update worker-protection statutes. The bill would make damages (including treble damages and reasonable attorneys’ fees) consistent across wage-payment, minimum-wage and overtime statutes; permit collective actions in all wage-theft statutes; and set a three‑year statute of limitations for wage theft and misclassification claims. It would also extend the Virginia Human Rights Act (HRA) statute of limitations to two years.
Proponents — including employment lawyers, legal-aid groups, unions and worker advocates — said the changes reduce complexity, strengthen enforcement against bad actors who evade wages, and align Virginia with neighboring jurisdictions. Craig Kerwood, Legal Aid Justice Center and other advocates urged passage. No organized opposition appeared in committee testimony.
Committee action: The bill was reported out by voice vote of 4–2.
Why it matters: Harmonizing remedies and limitations is intended to improve enforcement, deter wage theft and misclassification, and give workers more consistent legal tools to recover unpaid wages and assert civil-rights claims.
