Committee advances wide package on worker protections, wage transparency and unemployment changes
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Summary
The House Committee on Labor and Commerce reported a suite of employment bills — including measures to expand apprenticeship access for 16‑year‑olds, ban employer wage‑history inquiries, strengthen anti‑retaliation rules and change unemployment benefit timing — and sent several to Appropriations or incorporated them into larger bills.
The House Committee on Labor and Commerce on Monday advanced a broad slate of bills from subcommittees that would change employer practices, expand apprenticeship access for teens and adjust unemployment benefits.
Chair Cheryl Lopez presided as subcommittee chairs presented recommendations that the committee adopted by voice or recorded votes. The measures included HB 275 (apprenticeship exceptions for 16‑year‑olds), HP 636 (prohibiting employers from seeking wage or salary history), HB 675 (prohibitions on coercion based on immigration status), HB 925 (extending the filing deadline under the Virginia Human Rights Act), HB 930 (barring retaliatory employer actions), and a pair of unemployment measures (HB 1319 and HB 1320).
Why it matters: The package would change how employers may screen and pay applicants and employees, provide new remedies for victims of coercion tied to immigration status, and alter unemployment program timing and benefit amounts — changes that affect private employers, state agencies and workers across the Commonwealth.
Key actions and outcomes reported to the committee: - HB 275 (Del. Resul): allows 16‑year‑olds to serve in registered apprenticeships in fields such as culinary arts and information technology if they meet registration, training or certification criteria; subcommittee recommended reporting with a substitute and the committee reported the measure with the substitute (21–0). - HP 636 (Maldonado — wage/salary history): prohibits employers from seeking or relying on a prospective employee’s wage or salary history and would require posting wage ranges; the subcommittee recommended reporting with amendments; the committee reported the bill with amendments (16–2). - HB 675 (Del. Delia Maldonado): bars employers, including state entities, from coercion or threats based on immigration status; creates a complaint process with the Commissioner of Labor and Industry and civil penalties up to $12,000 for repeat violations; reported and referred to Appropriations (15–7). - HB 925 (patron identified in the report as Del.): extends the statute of limitations for employment discrimination complaints under the Virginia Human Rights Act from 300 days to two years and permits a civil action after 180 days under specified conditions; reported (15–7). - HB 930 (Del. Simon): strengthens protections against retaliatory actions when employees report potential violations to supervisors or government agencies; the subcommittee recommended reporting with a substitute and the committee reported with substitute (15–7). Several related bills (HP 1164, HB 1216) were incorporated into larger measures by voice votes. - HB 1319 (Del. Martinez): caps unemployment benefit duration at 26 weeks for claims effective July 1, 2026 or later; reported (15–7). - HB 1320 (Del. Martinez): an emergency measure raising weekly unemployment benefits by $48 for certain future claims; reported and referred to Appropriations (15–7).
Voices from the meeting: Much of the session involved formal subcommittee reports and little extended debate. Subcommittee chairs noted that testimony had been taken at the subcommittee level. Chair Lopez thanked subcommittee chairs and members for processing roughly 250 assigned bills and announced that full-committee business was complete.
What’s next: Several bills were referred to the Appropriations Committee for budgetary review; two bills (HB 121 and HB 1451) were carried over to the 2027 session. Subcommittees were set to convene immediately after adjournment to continue work on remaining items.