# Virginia HB670: Labor & employment provisions; application of law, protection of employees, definition of employer.

Virginia HB670, Labor & employment provisions; application of law, protection of employees, definition of employer., 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 (22-Y 17-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB670-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB670
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Labor & employment provisions; application of law, protection of employees, definition of employer.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 14 (333 yes, 161 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Labor and employment provisions; application of law; protection of employees; definition of employer. Provides that the exemption for the Commonwealth, any of its agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions, or any public body under Title 40.1 does not apply when expressly provided otherwise. The bill defines "public body" as the term relates to labor and employment and provides that for the purposes of various requirements related to the protection of employees, the definition of "employer" includes the Commonwealth and its agencies, institutions, and political subdivisions, and any public body.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Public workers gain coverage with limits: mixed, medium. The law requires reenactment in Virginia's 2027 General Assembly session before these changes can take effect. Public employers are generally outside the labor and safety rules unless a law or specific regulation includes them. Two covered articles expressly include the state, its agencies and inst…
- Workers' medical cannabis protections have limits: mixed, low. The law requires reenactment in Virginia's 2027 General Assembly session before these changes can take effect. Employers cannot fire, discipline, or discriminate against employees for lawful medical cannabis-oil use with a valid practitioner's certification. Employers can still act against work imp…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 63 | 35 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 22 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 23 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 61 | 35 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations | pass | 5 | 2 |   |

## Actions (50)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1065) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB670ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor - Chapter 1065 (effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-04-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB670) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB670ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB670) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Committee substitute printed 26109549D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-12: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-12: committee amendment rejected (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB670) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Committee substitute printed 26107496D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-09: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-09: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB670) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education (House)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 2-N) (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 26102038D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225369.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225368.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219862.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219861.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219051.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213465.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213464.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203874.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203873.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135825.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135374.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135367.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135373.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135824.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135366.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115283.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103821.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102076.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085438.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085437.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/1225369.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225368.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219862.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219861.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219051.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213465.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213464.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203874.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1203873.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135825.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135374.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135367.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135373.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135824.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135366.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115283.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103821.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102076.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085438.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085437.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-HB670-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).