Panel reports substitute for HB27 to provide overtime protections for domestic and live‑in workers

Summary

HB27 (cognate to a Senate bill) would extend overtime protections — time‑and‑a‑half for hours over 40 — to domestic workers including live‑in caregivers and nannies. The subcommittee accepted a substitute and reported the bill with amendments 5–2 after broad testimony supporting the expansion.

Delegate Henson presented HB27 as a cognate to Senate Bill 28 and explained that the substitute clarifies definitions for domestic services and live‑in domestic workers, expressly including nannies, house cleaners and caregivers under the Virginia overtime statute. "This bill addresses the gap by clearly defining domestic services and live‑in domestic worker," Henson said.

Supporters including Jewel Gatlin of Care in Action, Judith Conte of the Virginia Employment Lawyers Association, and several unions argued many domestic workers — primarily Black and brown women, according to testimonials — currently lack overtime protections despite working over 40 hours per week. Gatlin told the panel domestic workers often work around the clock and see no overtime pay.

No in‑person opposition spoke at the hearing; the committee accepted amendments and reported the bill with amendments by a 5–2 vote. The substitute mirrors language recently passed in the Senate and seeks to align state overtime law for this workforce.