Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

HB675 Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty.

Direction

Immigration enforcement sanctuary policiesAI label

Restricts immigration enforcement model confidence 80%

Prohibits employers (including government entities) from using immigration-status threats or coercion to deter employees from exercising labor rights under state wage/hour laws, with investigation, penalties, and nondisclosure of complainants, so less immigration enforcement is used as leverage in a

No employer shall use coercion or issue a threat to an employee based on immigration status in furtherance of committing a violation of any provision of Article 1.1 (§ 40.1-28.8 et seq.) or Article 2 (§ 40.1-29 et seq.), including rules issued by the Department pursuant to Article 1.1 (§ 40.1-28.8 et seq.) or Article 2 (§ 40.1-29 et seq.).

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Immigration enforcement otherAI label

Expands immigration enforcement model confidence 70%

Creates a specific state labor-agency process to investigate and penalize employers for immigration-status-based threats or coercion against employees exercising wage/hour rights (with civil penalties up to $12,000 per violation, subpoenas, and injunctive relief), so state government becomes more (f

The Commissioner shall receive and acknowledge complaints from individuals and interested third parties. The Commissioner may initiate an investigation (i) upon the receipt of a complaint from an employee, (ii) upon the receipt of a complaint from an interested third party, or (iii) at the Commissioner's discretion.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2026-05-14: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1115)
Filed: 2026-01-13
Sponsor: Michelle Maldonado D + 20 cosponsors (20 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill creates new state labor-law protections and enforcement mechanisms specifically addressing employer use of immigration status to coerce or threaten employees regarding protected labor activities. This restricts immigration-enforcement/sanctuary-policies by limiting how immigration status can be leveraged against workers (a form of limiting cooperation or use of immigration enforcement in workplaces). It also expands immigration-enforcement/other by directing a state agency to investigate and penalize such threats as a new form of state labor-based immigration-related enforcement. No

Related bills

HB1441 Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement.Restricts immigration enforcement Restricts immigration enforcement Law
SB783 Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement.Restricts immigration enforcement Restricts immigration enforcement Law
HB836 Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education, discrimination, etc.Restricts immigration enforcement Restricts immigration enforcement Law
SB491 Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education, discrimination, etc.Restricts immigration enforcement Restricts immigration enforcement Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-02-05 00:00 · Hearing · House Labor and Commerce: Subcommittee #2 Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2026-02-10 00:00 · Hearing · House Labor and Commerce Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2026-02-11 00:00 · Hearing · House Appropriations: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources Hearing House Appropriations Committee Room - 1200
2026-02-11 00:00 · Hearing · House Appropriations Hearing House Appropriations Committee Room - 1200
2026-02-25 19:00 · Hearing · Senate Courts of Justice Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-03-04 09:30 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-02-05	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)	7-0	Passed
2026-02-10	H	Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)	15-7	Passed
2026-02-11	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)	5-2	Passed
2026-02-11	H	Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)	15-7	Passed
2026-02-17	H	Read third time and passed House (61-Y 36-N 0-A)	61-36	Passed
2026-02-25	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-03-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-03-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)	39-0	Passed
2026-03-10	S	Passed Senate with substitute with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed
2026-03-11	H	Senate substitute with amendment agreed to by House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)	64-35	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-13
Comm Sub 2026-02-25
Comm Sub 2026-02-27
Enrolled 2026-03-30
Comm Sub 2026-04-14
Chaptered 2026-05-14

History (47 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-05-14		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1115)
2026-05-14		Approved by Governor-Chapter 1115 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-23		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
2026-04-23	H	Communicated to Governor
2026-04-23	H	Passed by for the day
2026-04-22	H	Passed by for the day
2026-04-13		Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-04-02	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB675)
2026-03-31		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31	H	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-30	S	Signed by President
2026-03-30	H	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB675ER)
2026-03-30	H	Enrolled
2026-03-11	H	Senate substitute with amendment agreed to by House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-03-10	S	Passed Senate with substitute with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-10	S	Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended
2026-03-10	S	Senator Surovell Amendment agreed to
2026-03-10	S	Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
2026-03-10	S	Floor offered Senator Surovell Amendment
2026-03-10	S	Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-03-10	S	Read third time
2026-03-09	S	Passed by for the day
2026-03-06	S	Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB675)
2026-03-05	S	Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-05	S	Rules suspended
2026-03-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-02-27	S	Committee substitute printed 26108658D-S1
2026-02-25	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-02-25	S	Senate committee offered
2026-02-18	S	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-18	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-17	H	Read third time and passed House (61-Y 36-N 0-A)
2026-02-16	H	Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-13	H	Read first time
2026-02-12	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB675)
2026-02-11	H	Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-11	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
2026-02-11	H	Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
2026-02-10	H	Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-09	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB675)
2026-02-05	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)
2026-01-20	H	Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
2026-01-13	H	Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
2026-01-13	H	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103703D