# Virginia HB243: Corporate welfare tax; imposes on large employers a tax equal to 100% of qualified employee benefit.

Virginia HB243, Corporate welfare tax; imposes on large employers a tax equal to 100% of qualified employee benefit., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua G. Cole (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-11 (Continued to 2027 in Finance (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB243-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB243
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Corporate welfare tax; imposes on large employers a tax equal to 100% of qualified employee benefit.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-02-11, Continued to 2027 in Finance (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Subcommittee #1
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Corporate welfare tax. Imposes on large employers, as defined in the bill, a corporate welfare tax equal to 100 percent of the qualified employee benefits received by any employees of such large employer residing in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Department of Taxation to obtain identifying data for individuals receiving qualified federal benefits, as defined by the bill, from the Department of Social Services pursuant to an interagency agreement and to compare such data to employment rosters received quarterly from large employers to determine the amount of qualified federal benefits received by employees of such large employers. The bill also prohibits an employer, in connection with the selection or referral of applicants or candidates for employment, to make inquiries or otherwise seek information relating to whether such applicant receives qualified federal benefits.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Continued to 2027 in Finance (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-11: Continued to 2027 in Finance (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-08: Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (2/8/2026 12:59 pm) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Assigned HFIN sub: Subcommittee #1 (House)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee on Finance (House)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104162D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083237.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083236.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083237.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083236.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB243-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).