VirginiaHB12182026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Summer camps; employment of children.

Sponsored By: Karrie K. Delaney (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Employment of children; summer camps. Permits children 14 years of age or older to be employed by a summer camp operated by a religious, service, or scouting organization and provides that such children may participate in all activities related to providing services to campers, provided that the summer camp is accredited and follows safety guidelines published by a recognized youth services organization.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Farm vehicle work rules for teens

If you are 16 or older and work on a farm, garden, or orchard, you may operate or help operate a truck or farm vehicle. Tractor trailers are not allowed. If you are 14 or older and work only on the farm property, you may serve as a truck helper on the premises.

Hazardous jobs barred for under 18s

The law keeps anyone under 18 out of high‑risk jobs. Minors cannot work in mines, quarries, tunnels, explosives, or with radioactive or X‑ray gear. They cannot run or clean dangerous power‑driven machines like saws, grinders, or metal‑forming tools, or make toxic chemical mixes. Work in making paints or white lead, brick, demolition, roofing, excavation, shipbreaking, logging, sawmills, slaughtering, and meatpacking is also banned. There are narrow exceptions in some licensed alcohol premises where minors still may not serve alcohol. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry can name more hazardous jobs.

More trade and salon paths at 16

If you are 16 or older in a voluntary apprenticeship approved under state law, you may work in occupations otherwise closed to minors, following the Commissioner’s rules. You may also work in a licensed barbershop or cosmetology salon if you are a registered apprentice, in a Board of Education work‑training program, or you hold a barber or cosmetology license.

Tight limits on 17-year-old work driving

The law bans work driving for most minors, but allows some 17‑year‑olds to drive under strict rules. The vehicle must be 6,000 pounds GVW or less and have seat belts that are worn. Driving must be in daylight, within 30 miles, and be occasional: no more than one‑third of a workday and 20% of a week. The teen must have a valid license, no moving violations at hire, and must have completed state‑approved driver education. No towing, route sales or deliveries, for‑hire trips, or urgent deliveries; no more than three passengers; and no more than two trips away from the main workplace per day for deliveries and two for passenger trips.

Under-16 job bans and 14+ options

Children under 16 face wide job bans. They cannot work in factories, canneries, warehouses, laundry or dry‑cleaning processing, funeral homes, curb‑service restaurants, hotel room service, brick, coal, or lumber yards, ice plants, theaters as ushers, construction or scaffolding, outdoor shows, pool halls, clubs, or as beach lifeguards. An approved work‑training program can allow some of these roles. Teens 14 or older can do clerical office work in real office rooms; work at branch dry cleaners or laundries with no on‑site processing; and do kitchen, tray, and room or hall cleaning in hospitals and nursing homes. They may also work in bowling alleys with automatic pinsetters (not on the machines), in soda fountains, restaurants, and hotel food service, as pool gate or concession staff, handling beach chairs and umbrellas, and at accredited summer camps run by religious, service, or scouting groups that follow published safety rules.

Volunteer fire roles for 16-year-olds

If you are 16 or older, you may take part in all volunteer fire company activities. You may not enter a burning building until you earn NFPA 1001 level‑one firefighter certification, except during required training run by the Department of Fire Programs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karrie K. Delaney

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 215 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce

Yes: 20 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0269)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 269 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1218ER)

    3/12/2026House
  6. Enrolled

    3/12/2026House
  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1218)

    3/12/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/12/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/5/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    3/4/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)

    3/2/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    2/18/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  18. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  19. Read second time and engrossed

    2/16/2026House
  20. Read first time

    2/15/2026House
  21. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

    2/12/2026House
  22. Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 0-N)

    2/12/2026House
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1218)

    2/4/2026House
  24. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2

    1/27/2026House
  25. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

    1/14/2026House

Bill Text

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