All Roll Calls
Yes: 138 • No: 86
VirginiaHB25612025 Regular SessionHouse
Employee protections; minimum wage and overtime wages, civil actions, misclassification of workers.
Sponsored By: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic)
To Governor
Summary
Employee protections; minimum wage and overtime wages; civil actions; misclassification of workers. Provides that an employer that violates minimum wage or overtime wages provisions is liable to the employee for the applicable remedies, damages, or other relief available in an action brought pursuant to the civil action provisions currently available for the nonpayment of wages. Such provisions currently available provide that an employee may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover payment of the wages, and the court is required to award the wages owed, an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, plus prejudgment interest thereon, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. Under current law, if the court finds that the employer knowingly failed to pay wages to an employee, the court is required to award the employee an amount equal to triple the amount of wages due and reasonable attorney fees and costs, and such actions are required to be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued. The bill also increases from 300 days to two years the amount of time a complainant has to file an allegation of discriminatory practice with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Law alleging a violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act or federal statutes governing discrimination in employment that also falls under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Human Rights Act. Additionally, the bill provides that a civil action brought by an individual against his employer for failing to properly classify the individual as an employee under current law shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued.
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Alfonso H. Lopez
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 21 • No: 19
Senate vote • 2/18/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/17/2025
Reported from Commerce and Labor
Yes: 9 • No: 6
House vote • 2/3/2025
Read third time and passed House
Yes: 51 • No: 48
House vote • 1/28/2025
Reported from Labor and Commerce
Yes: 12 • No: 10
House vote • 1/23/2025
Subcommittee recommends reporting
Yes: 5 • No: 3 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
House sustained Governor's veto
4/2/2025HouseVetoed by Governor
3/24/2025GovernorGovernor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
3/11/2025GovernorEnrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
3/11/2025HouseSigned by President
3/10/2025SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2561)
3/7/2025HouseBill text as passed House and Senate (HB2561ER)
3/7/2025HouseEnrolled
3/7/2025HouseSigned by Speaker
3/7/2025HousePassed Senate (21-Y 19-N)
2/19/2025SenateRead third time
2/19/2025SenateConstitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
2/18/2025SenatePassed by for the day
2/18/2025SenateRules suspended
2/18/2025SenateReported from Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)
2/17/2025SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2561)
2/6/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
2/4/2025SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2/4/2025SenateRead third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N)
2/3/2025HouseRead second time and engrossed
1/31/2025HouseRead first time
1/30/2025HouseReported from Labor and Commerce (12-Y 10-N)
1/28/2025HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N)
1/23/2025HouseAssigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2
1/21/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
1/12/2025House
Bill Text
Veto Explanation
3/24/2025
Enrolled
3/7/2025
Introduced
1/12/2025
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