HB238
Minimum wage and overtime wages; payment, definitions, misclassification of workers, civil actions.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Alfonso Lopez (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Labor and employment; payment of wages; minimum wage and overtime wages; misclassification of workers; prevailing wage rate; civil actions.
Provides that an employer that violates provisions relating to minimum wage, overtime wages provisions, the misclassification of workers, or the prevailing wage rate 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 ... (More) 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/08/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104955D
- 01/08/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 01/15/2026 - House: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
- 01/21/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 01/22/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/22/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)
- 01/23/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 01/27/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26105944D-H1
- 01/29/2026 - House: Read first time
- 01/30/2026 - House: Read second time
- 01/30/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 01/30/2026 - House: Delegate Lopez Floor amendments agreed to
- 01/30/2026 - House: Delegate Lopez Floor amendments agreed to
- 01/30/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended
- 02/02/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 02/11/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/11/2026 4:09 pm)
- 02/13/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26108602D-S1
- 03/03/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/3/2026 3:58 pm)
- 03/06/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB238)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/11/2026 - House: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 1-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate requested conference committee
- 03/12/2026 - House: House acceded to request
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Lopez, Anthony, Garrett
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Surovell, McPike, Stuart
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference substitute printed 26110066D-H2
- 03/14/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/14/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/14/2026 2:04 pm)
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
