# Virginia HB636: Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees.

Virginia HB636, Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB636-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB636
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 11 (302 yes, 151 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Prohibiting employer seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees; wage or salary range transparency; cause of action. Prohibits a prospective employer from (i) seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee; (ii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the prospective employee for employment; (iii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in determining the wages or salary the prospective employee is to be paid upon hire; (iv) refusing to interview, hire, employ, or promote or otherwise retaliating against a prospective or current employee for not providing wage or salary history or requesting a wage or salary range; (v) failing or refusing to disclose in each public and internal posting for each job, promotion, transfer, or other employment opportunity the wage, salary, or wage or salary range; and (vi) failing to set a wage or salary range in good faith. The bill establishes a cause of action for an aggrieved prospective employee or employee and provides that an employer that violates such prohibitions is liable to the aggrieved prospective employee or employee for statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate. This bill incorporates HB 1164 and is identical to SB 215.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia workers gain pay transparency and protections: benefit, medium. Virginia employers cannot seek applicants’ current or past pay or use it to decide whom to hire. They cannot use that history to set starting pay, except to support a higher offer as described below. Employers cannot deny interviews, jobs, or promotions, or otherwise retaliate, because someone with…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 66 | 33 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Senate amendment agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 34 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment | pass | 20 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment | pass | 8 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 65 | 33 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 16 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 4 | 2 |   |

## Actions (45)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (66-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1063) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB636ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1063 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-25: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-25: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB636) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB636ER) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-14: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-09: Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed House (65-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-13: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB636) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Committee substitute printed 26106771D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-10: Incorporates HB1164 (Cole, N.T.) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (16-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB636) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102232D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225293.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225292.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220480.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220479.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219741.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219740.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219467.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209097.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209096.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196680.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190891.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189072.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177117.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139055.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139054.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132155.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131434.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085298.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085297.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225293.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225292.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220480.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220479.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219741.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219740.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219467.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209097.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209096.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196680.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190891.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189072.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177117.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139055.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139054.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132155.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131434.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085298.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085297.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB636-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).