# Virginia HB1344: Employee protection; prohibited retaliation, prohibited nondisclosure & nondisparagement provisions.

Virginia HB1344, Employee protection; prohibited retaliation, prohibited nondisclosure & nondisparagement provisions., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Delores L. McQuinn (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-18 (Left in Labor and Commerce) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1344-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1344
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Employee protection; prohibited retaliation, prohibited nondisclosure & nondisparagement provisions.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-12
- Last action: 2024-11-18, Left in Labor and Commerce
- Sponsor: Delores L. McQuinn (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Labor and Commerce
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Employee protection; prohibited retaliation; prohibited nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions; civil action. Prohibits the inclusion of a provision in any employment contract that has the purpose or effect of concealing illegal activity or activity an employee believes to be unlawful, including unlawful sexual harassment, discrimination, wage theft, and protected whistleblowing, as those terms are described in existing law. Under the bill's provisions, no employer shall discharge or otherwise retaliate against an employee, prospective employee, or independent contractor for disclosing or discussing conduct that such employee reasonably believes to be discrimination, including harassment, retaliation, a wage or hour violation, sexual assault, fraud against taxpayers, shareholders, the government, consumers, or other employees, or other conduct that is against a clear mandate of public policy. An employer that violates the provisions of the bill shall be liable for the greater of actual damages or statutory damages of $10,000, as well as reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill also requires employers to include in any settlement agreement or employment agreement with an employee a disclaimer that such agreement does not prohibit an employee from disclosing conduct as protected under the bill. The provisions of the bill apply to contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or amended on or after July 1, 2024.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Delores L. McQuinn (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2024-11-18: Left in Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2024-02-08: Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-02-08: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2024-01-26: Impact statement from DPB (HB1344) (House)
- 2024-01-23: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2024-01-12: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2024-01-12: Presented and ordered printed 24105208D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-01-19: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1344)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1344)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1344-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).