Bill Commons

VA HB 627

vetoed

Covenants not to compete; includes health care professionals, civil penalty.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 627 pass?

No. VA HB 627 passed the legislature but was vetoed on 2026-04-11. Latest recorded action (2026-04-11): Governor's recommendation received by House

What is VA HB 627 about?

Covenants not to compete; health care professionals; civil penalty. Adds health care professionals as a category of employee with or upon whom no employer shall enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce a covenant not to compete. The bill defines "health care professional" as any person licensed, registered, or certified by the Board of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, or Social Work. The bill provides that any employer that violates the prohibition against covenants not to compete with a health care professional is subject to the civil penalty in current law of $10,000 for each violation. This bill is identical to SB 128.

Who sponsors VA HB 627?

Charniele L. Herring is the primary sponsor of VA HB 627, joined by 3 cosponsors.

Description

Covenants not to compete; health care professionals; civil penalty. Adds health care professionals as a category of employee with or upon whom no employer shall enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce a covenant not to compete. The bill defines "health care professional" as any person licensed, registered, or certified by the Board of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, or Social Work. The bill provides that any employer that violates the prohibition against covenants not to compete with a health care professional is subject to the civil penalty in current law of $10,000 for each violation. This bill is identical to SB 128.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Latest action
2026-04-11 — Governor's recommendation received by House
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Charniele L. Herringprimary
  • Dan I. Helmercosponsor
  • Kathy K.L. Trancosponsor
  • Shelly A. Simondscosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104135D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-20

    Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-01-29

    House subcommittee offered

  5. 2026-01-29

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)

  6. 2026-02-03

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  7. 2026-02-03

    Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N)

    committee-passage

  8. 2026-02-05

    Read first time

    reading-1

  9. 2026-02-06

    Read second time

    reading-2

  10. 2026-02-06

    committee amendments agreed to

    amendment-passage

  11. 2026-02-06

    Engrossed by House as amended

  12. 2026-02-09

    Read third time and passed House (93-Y 5-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  13. 2026-02-10

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  14. 2026-02-10

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    referral-committee

  15. 2026-02-12

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  16. 2026-02-23

    Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  17. 2026-02-24

    Committee substitute printed 26108396D-S1

    substitution

  18. 2026-02-24

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  19. 2026-03-04

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  20. 2026-03-05

    Rules suspended

  21. 2026-03-05

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-03-05

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-03-06

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-03-09

    Read third time

    reading-3

  25. 2026-03-09

    Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

  26. 2026-03-09

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  27. 2026-03-09

    Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage

  28. 2026-03-11

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)

    substitution

  29. 2026-03-30

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  30. 2026-03-30

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB627ER)

    passage

  31. 2026-03-30

    Signed by President

    passage

  32. 2026-03-31

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  33. 2026-03-31

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  34. 2026-03-31

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  35. 2026-04-02

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  36. 2026-04-11

    Governor's recommendation received by House

    executive-veto-line-item

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

    2026-01-29 · pass · 5-2

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no

  • Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s)

    2026-02-03 · pass · 20-2

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-09 · pass · 93-5

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: not voting
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: yes

  • Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute

    2026-02-23 · pass · 15-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes

  • Reported from Finance and Appropriations

    2026-03-04 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: not voting
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-05 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • David W. Marsden: not voting
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-09 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-11 · pass · 95-2

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: not voting
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: not voting
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB627

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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