# Virginia SB378: Public employees; repeals existing prohibition on collective bargaining, etc. Virginia SB378, Public employees; repeals existing prohibition on collective bargaining, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Scott A. Surovell (Democratic); status vetoed, last action 2026-05-14 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB378-2026 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB378 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Public employees; repeals existing prohibition on collective bargaining, etc. - Status: vetoed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-05-14, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 17 (391 yes, 227 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Collective bargaining by public employees; individual home care providers; Virginia Home Care Council established; Public Employee Relations Board established; exclusive bargaining representatives. Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees. The bill requires public employers and employee organizations that are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The bill establishes the Virginia Home Care Council within the Department of Medical Assistance Services to promote the stability of the individual provider workforce in the Commonwealth and tasks the Council with serving as the public employer of individual providers, as defined in the bill, for purposes of collective bargaining pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill repeals a provision that declares that in any procedure providing for the designation, selection, or authorization of a labor organization to represent employees the right of an individual employee to vote by secret ballot is a fundamental right that shall be guaranteed from infringement. The bill directs the Department of Labor and Industry to promulgate any regulations necessary to effectuate the bill's provisions by July 1, 2028, and provides that upon the establishment of the Public Employee Relations Board, such regulations shall be transferred to the Board. The bill provides that until such regulations are adopted, no petitions or elections shall take place pursuant to the bill's provisions except pursuant to an ordinance or resolution adopted under current law. This bill is identical to HB 1263. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-14 | Senate | Senate acceded to request for second conference committee | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 61 | 36 | | | 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 20 | 18 | | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 | | | 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 62 | 35 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Reported from Appropriations | 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 | Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 22 | 18 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (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 | 8 | 6 | | ## Actions (64) - 2026-05-14: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Communicated to Governor (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor) - 2026-04-08: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB378) (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 (SB378ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB378) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 36-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-14: House Conferees: Tran, Ward, Wilt (House) - 2026-03-14: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-14: Conference Report released - 2026-03-14: Senate acceded to request for second conference committee (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Passed by temporarily (House) - 2026-03-14: Conference Report released - 2026-03-14: Senate Conferees: Surovell, Boysko, Stuart (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Second conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-14: House requested second conference committee (House) - 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Tran, Ward, Wilt (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: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Surovell, Boysko, Stuart (Senate) - 2026-03-11: House requested conference committee (House) - 2026-03-11: House insisted on substitute (House) - 2026-03-10: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Passed House with substitute (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-03-09: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-09: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-06: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB378) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-03-03: Committee substitute printed 26109085D-H1 (House) - 2026-03-03: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB378) (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) - 2026-02-17: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute printed 26107922D-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) - 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB378) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26106841D-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 (8-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-30: Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/30/2026 8:51 am) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105328D (Senate) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2026-05-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225652.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219591.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219590.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219587.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214274.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214273.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211666.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212424.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212421.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211660.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211659.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212420.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191696.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191695.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149089.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149088.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108480.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108479.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108050.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108049.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089846.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089845.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 - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225652.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219591.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219590.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219587.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214274.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214273.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211666.HTML) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212424.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212421.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211660.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211659.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212420.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191696.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191695.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149089.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149088.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108480.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108479.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108050.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108049.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089846.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089845.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-SB378-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).