Business groups seek a cure period for salary-posting bill as subcommittee adopts amendment

The Senate subcommittee took up House Bill 636, a bill requiring salary-range disclosure in job postings, and adopted a line amendment that allows any person to notify an employer of a deficient posting and gives the employer 15 business days to correct it. The amendment also directs courts not to assess penalties or awards under the section if the employer corrects the posting.

Nicole Brenner, representing the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and 7 Hills Strategy Group, told the committee she had worked on earlier versions and said the amendment differs from language the business community had expected. Brenner urged adding a provision that would explicitly bar causes of action if the employer corrects a deficient posting, citing an experience in another state that produced class-action litigation when employers were not given an opportunity to cure.

Sponsors defended the amendment as preserving the bill's public-transparency intent while enabling the Attorney General to mitigate enforcement concerns. The committee heard comments from both sides and agreed to take the bill "by for the day," giving patrons and stakeholders time to consider the amendment language before proceeding.

The committee's action reflects a common legislative compromise: preserving public access to salary ranges while creating a pathway for employers to correct technical deficiencies. The bill was previously reported out of committee on a narrow vote (7–6) in an earlier stage; members signaled that further work between sponsors and stakeholders is expected before the panel advances it again.