Legislative Corner: Chamber Weighs In on Key State Legislation Affecting Virginia Employers

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber continues to advocate on behalf of our members by engaging on important legislation passed during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session.

Recently, the Chamber joined other local and regional chambers across the Commonwealth in signing onto coordinated letters led by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to Governor Abigail Spanberger regarding several major bills currently awaiting executive action. These measures could significantly impact Virginia’s business climate and employers of all sizes.

The legislation includes:

House Bill 449 / Senate Bill 229 – Legislation permitting class action lawsuits in Virginia courts for the first time. The letter urges a veto but, should the Governor choose to sign, urges amendments to align the legislation with federal procedural standards and protecting Virginia businesses from disproportionate legal risk.
House Bill 238 – Legislation significantly expanding employer liability for wage violations and providing unprecedented expansion of whistleblower protections. The letter urges a veto.
House Bill 5 / Senate Bill 199 – Legislation requiring private employers to provide paid sick leave. The letter urges a veto but, should the Governor choose to sign, requests several amendments to make the policy workable, constitutional, and fair for Virginia employers and employees alike.
House Bill 1207 / Senate Bill 2 – Legislation establishing a mandatory paid family and medical leave in Virginia. As this legislation is a stated priority for the Governor, our letter urges targeted amendments to make the program administrable for Virginia employers and more consistent with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Individually and collectively, these proposals represent substantial policy changes that could affect operating costs, compliance requirements, and the overall legal environment for businesses across Virginia, including here in the Top of Virginia region.

By participating in this coordinated advocacy effort, the Chamber is helping ensure the voice of our regional business community is part of the conversation as the Governor considers next steps on these measures.

We will continue monitoring developments closely and working with statewide partners to support policies that strengthen Virginia’s competitiveness and economic vitality. If you have questions about these issues or would like to share how state policy affects your business, we welcome your input.