Subcommittee advances a slate of workplace, wage and consumer bills to Appropriations

The subcommittee considered a large docket of workplace, wage and consumer bills and took action on multiple measures.

Whistleblower protections (HB 930): A substitute expanding who can receive protected whistleblower reports and limiting employers’ ability to contract around protections was reported with substitute; business groups objected to perceived operational burdens but proponents said the change strengthens existing law.

Wage transparency (HB 636): Delegate Maldonado’s bill that would ban salary‑history inquiries and require wage range disclosures, including a 15‑day cure period amendment, was reported as amended (vote recorded 4–2). Supporters cited research showing reduced pay gaps; the Virginia Chamber requested further work on the right‑to‑cure amendment.

Virginia Workplace Protection Act (HB 675): A measure banning employer threats to use immigration enforcement as a tool to silence workers and creating a complaint process at the Department of Labor and Industry passed unanimously in subcommittee and was reported and referred to Appropriations (7–0).

Unemployment bills (HB 1320 and HB 1319): Delegate Martinez’s bills to add a $48 one‑time boost to weekly UI benefits (completing a prior $100 policy) and to set a uniform 26‑week maximum duration were reported to appropriations; the committee discussed solvency and employer tax impacts and included enactment‑clause fiscal tables.

Other actions: HB 984 (cash‑acceptance/legal tender for in‑person human‑staffed businesses) was laid on the table after members expressed concern about the burden on small and mobile businesses and security risks. HB 925 (extending VHRA complaint windows to two years) was reported 5–2.

Most measures were sent to Appropriations for fiscal analysis or were carried over for further work; the subcommittee adjourned after the docket.