# Virginia SB2: Paid family & med. leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action, report.

Virginia SB2, Paid family & med. leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 34-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB2-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB2
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Paid family & med. leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-11-17
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 17 (502 yes, 292 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 14

## Summary

Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action. Requires the Virginia Employment Commission to establish and administer a paid family and medical leave insurance program with benefits beginning April 1, 2028. Under the program, benefits are paid to covered individuals, as defined in the bill, for family and medical leave. Funding for the program is provided through premiums assessed to employers and employees beginning April 1, 2028. The bill provides that the amount of a benefit is 80 percent of the employee's average weekly net earnings, not to exceed 100 percent of the statewide average weekly net earnings, which amount is required to be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the statewide average weekly wage. The bill caps the duration of paid leave at 12 weeks in any application year and provides self-employed individuals the option of participating in the program. This bill is identical to HB 1207.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- State workers get matching leave benefits: benefit, high. Virginia's human resources department must update Commonwealth employee leave policies by December 1, 2028. State workers must receive family and medical leave benefits at least as good as the state insurance program. These benefits come through Commonwealth leave policies rather than coverage unde…
- Workers get twelve weeks of benefits: benefit, high. Beginning December 1, 2028, eligible people get up to 12 weeks of benefits per benefit year, generally 52 weeks. Weekly payments replace 80% of average weekly wages, or average weekly net earnings for self-employed people, during the base period. The minimum is $100; workers averaging less than $10…
- Workers can recover leave violation losses: benefit, high. Workers can recover wages, benefits, or other compensation lost because employers violate job or anti-retaliation protections. Without those losses, workers can recover actual money losses up to 12 weeks of wages or salary. Courts can also award interest, usually an equal amount in added damages, a…
- Workers keep jobs and health coverage: benefit, high. Workers who receive program benefits and worked for their employer at least 120 days must regain the same or equivalent job. Employers must continue existing health coverage during leave; workers keep paying their usual share. Employers and others cannot deny leave rights or retaliate for requests,…
- Paid leave money stays protected: benefit, low. The law creates a separate state trust fund for paid leave contributions, appropriations, gifts, and interest. Unspent money stays in the fund rather than returning to the general budget. Money is limited to benefits, administration, startup costs, and repayment of state startup appropriations. Sta…
- False claims bring benefit bans: cost, high. Willfully lying to obtain benefits with intent to defraud is a Class 1 misdemeanor and brings a five-year benefit ban. Reckless material false statements or willfully hiding material facts to obtain benefits bring a three-year ban. The Commission can seek repayment of benefits paid by mistake, thro…
- Virginia workers gain paid leave coverage: mixed, high. Virginia must establish its paid leave program by January 1, 2028; claims and payments begin December 1, 2028. Workers must meet earnings requirements and be authorized to work in the United States when applying. Covered reasons include bonding within one year of birth, adoption, or foster placemen…
- Self-employed coverage requires three-year commitment: mixed, high. Self-employed people, including sole proprietors and partners, can choose paid leave coverage through written notice and required income information. The first coverage period must last at least three years. Elections within 26 weeks of becoming self-employed have no benefit waiting period; later e…
- Workers gain flexible, coordinated leave: mixed, medium. Workers can take paid leave in smaller blocks or on a reduced schedule, with payments adjusted for time taken. Only leave actually used counts against their total entitlement. Workers must coordinate schedules with employers, give advance notice when practical, and reasonably avoid undue disruption…
- Employers can choose regulated private plans: mixed, medium. Employers can use Commission-approved private plans instead of the state program. Plans must match or exceed state benefits, covered reasons, duration, wage replacement, intermittent leave, coverage, and rights. Employee contributions cannot be higher; workers keep job protections and benefit-appea…
- Workers pay; small employers get relief: mixed, medium. Contributions begin April 1, 2028, with annual rates set by October 1 for the following year. Employers with more than 10 employees remit the full contribution and deduct 50% from wages, or a lower agreed share. Employers with 10 or fewer employees deduct and remit 50%, but owe no additional employ…
- Claimants submit proof with privacy protections: mixed, low. Beginning December 1, 2028, claimants must provide proof matching their leave reason, such as medical, birth, placement, military, or safety records. Health information is confidential, with permission-based disclosure and legal exceptions. Claimants need not provide health-care-provider informatio…
- Workers receive notices and report leave: mixed, low. Employers must give written paid leave information at hiring, every year, and when workers request or appear to need qualifying leave. Notices must explain benefit amounts, claims, job and health protections, anti-discrimination rights, and complaints. Employers must post information in English, Sp…
- Leave insurers gain options and oversight: mixed, low. Life insurers can obtain annual licenses to offer paid family and medical leave insurance. Life and annuity agents can sell that coverage and private family leave insurance, but limited-lines licenses do not authorize paid family and medical leave sales. Insurers must file policy forms and applicab…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 63 | 34 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 33 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Delegate Bloxom Floor amendment passed by | pass | 64 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Delegate Bloxom Floor amendment passed by | pass | 64 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 64 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Substitute rejected | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 35 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 7 | 6 |   |

## Actions (67)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0981) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB2ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 981 (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 Senate (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB2) (Senate)
- 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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB2ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB2) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Sewell, Sullivan, Bloxom (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-12: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-03-12: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Boysko, Surovell, Obenshain (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-11: Delegate Bloxom Floor amendment passed by (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Delegate Bloxom Floor amendment passed by (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-11: committee substitute rejected (House)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-11: Floor Offered (House)
- 2026-03-11: Floor Offered (House)
- 2026-03-10: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-06: Committee substitute printed 26109198D-H2 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Committee substitute printed 26109083D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB2) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Commerce and Labor Substitute rejected (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Floor Offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Floor substitute printed 26108037D-S3 (McDougle) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Senator McDougle Substitute withdrawn (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107838D-S2 (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB2) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26106524D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (7-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100839D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224955.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224954.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220456.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220455.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219539.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219538.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219535.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213731.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213730.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210419.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210416.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210415.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205076.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205079.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198718.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198717.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191682.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191681.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149197.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149196.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148390.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148389.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108449.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108448.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107952.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107951.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-11-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081242.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081241.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/1224955.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224954.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220456.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220455.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219539.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219538.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219535.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213731.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213730.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210419.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210416.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210415.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205076.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205079.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198718.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198717.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191682.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191681.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149197.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149196.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148390.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148389.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108449.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108448.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107952.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107951.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081242.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081241.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-SB2-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).