# Virginia HB1921: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties, effective date.

Virginia HB1921, Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties, effective date., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jeion A. Ward (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-04-02 (House sustained Governor's veto) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1921-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1921
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties, effective date.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-04-02, House sustained Governor's veto
- Sponsor: Jeion A. Ward (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (220 yes, 119 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Employment; paid sick leave; civil penalties. Expands provisions of the Code that currently require one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked for home health workers to cover all employees of private employers and state and local governments. The bill requires that employees who are employed and compensated on a fee-for-service basis accrue paid sick leave in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. The bill provides that employees transferred to a separate division or location remain entitled to previously accrued paid sick leave and that employees retain their accrued sick leave under any successor employer. The bill allows employers to provide a more generous paid sick leave policy than prescribed by its provisions. Employees, in addition to using paid sick leave for their physical or mental illness or to care for a family member, may use paid sick leave for their need for services or relocation due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. The bill provides that certain health care workers who work no more than 30 hours per month may waive the right to accrue and use paid sick leave. The bill also provides that employers are not required to provide paid sick leave to certain health care workers who are employed on a pro re nata, or as-needed, basis, regardless of the number of hours worked. The bill requires the Commissioner to promulgate regulations regarding employee notification and employer recordkeeping requirements. The bill authorizes the Commissioner, in the case of a knowing violation, to subject an employer to a civil penalty not to exceed $150 for the first violation, $300 for the second violation, and $500 for each successive violation. The Commissioner may institute proceedings on behalf of an employee to enforce compliance with the provisions of this bill. Additionally, an aggrieved employee is authorized to bring a civil action against the employer in which he may recover double the amount of any unpaid sick leave and the amount of any actual damages suffered as the result of the employer's violation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeion A. Ward (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 21 | 16 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Defeated by Senate | fail | 18 | 20 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-17 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 4 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 51 | 47 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) | pass | 11 | 10 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025-01-28 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations | pass | 12 | 10 |   |
| 2025-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations | pass | 5 | 3 | 1 |

## Actions (36)

- 2025-04-02: House sustained Governor's veto (House)
- 2025-03-24: Vetoed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1921) (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1921ER) (House)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-20: Passed Senate (21-Y 16-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Defeated by Senate (18-Y 20-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1921) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 47-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Printed as engrossed 25100193D-E (House)
- 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2025-02-03: Appropriations Amendment agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2025-01-31: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1921) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (11-Y 10-N) (House)
- 2025-01-29: Assigned Approps sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-28: Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) (House)
- 2025-01-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2025-01-14: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25100193D (House)

## Bill text

- Veto Explanation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072871.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068613.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068612.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2025-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1035310.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1035309.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1033518.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014049.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014048.PDF)

## 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
- [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072871.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068613.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068612.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1035310.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1035309.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1033518.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014049.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014048.PDF)

## 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-HB1921-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).