Bill Commons

VA HB 636

vetoed

Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 636 pass?

No. VA HB 636 passed the legislature but was vetoed on 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Governor's recommendation received by House

What is VA HB 636 about?

Prohibiting employer seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees; wage or salary range transparency; cause of action. Prohibits a prospective employer from (i) seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee; (ii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the prospective employee for employment; (iii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in determining the wages or salary the prospective employee is to be paid upon hire; (iv) refusing to interview, hire, employ, or promote or otherwise retaliating against a prospective or current employee for not providing wage or salary history or requesting a wage or salary range; (v) failing or refusing to disclose in each public and internal posting for each job, promotion, transfer, or other employment opportunity the wage, salary, or wage or salary range; and (vi) failing to set a wage or salary range in good faith. The bill establishes a cause of action for an aggrieved prospective employee or employee and provides that an employer that violates such prohibitions is liable to the aggrieved prospective employee or employee for statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate. This bill incorporates HB 1164 and is identical to SB 215.

Who sponsors VA HB 636?

Michelle Lopes Maldonado is the primary sponsor of VA HB 636, joined by 20 cosponsors.

Description

Prohibiting employer seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees; wage or salary range transparency; cause of action. Prohibits a prospective employer from (i) seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee; (ii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the prospective employee for employment; (iii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in determining the wages or salary the prospective employee is to be paid upon hire; (iv) refusing to interview, hire, employ, or promote or otherwise retaliating against a prospective or current employee for not providing wage or salary history or requesting a wage or salary range; (v) failing or refusing to disclose in each public and internal posting for each job, promotion, transfer, or other employment opportunity the wage, salary, or wage or salary range; and (vi) failing to set a wage or salary range in good faith. The bill establishes a cause of action for an aggrieved prospective employee or employee and provides that an employer that violates such prohibitions is liable to the aggrieved prospective employee or employee for statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate. This bill incorporates HB 1164 and is identical to SB 215.

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

Sponsors

  • Michelle Lopes Maldonadoprimary
  • Holly M. Seiboldcosponsor
  • Charlie Schmidtcosponsor
  • Sam Rasoulcosponsor
  • May Nivarcosponsor
  • Marty Martinezcosponsor
  • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.cosponsor
  • Dan I. Helmercosponsor
  • Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
  • Jackie H. Glasscosponsor
  • Kathy K.L. Trancosponsor
  • Rae Cousinscosponsor
  • Nicole Colecosponsor
  • Joshua G. Colecosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
  • Leslie Chambers Mehtacosponsor
  • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parkercosponsor
  • Margaret A. Franklincosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102232D

    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. 2026-01-30

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB636)

  5. 2026-02-05

    House subcommittee offered

  6. 2026-02-05

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 2-N)

  7. 2026-02-10

    Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (16-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  8. 2026-02-10

    Incorporates HB1164 (Cole, N.T.)

  9. 2026-02-10

    Committee substitute printed 26106771D-H1

    substitution

  10. 2026-02-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB636)

  11. 2026-02-12

    Read first time

    reading-1

  12. 2026-02-13

    Read second time

    reading-2

  13. 2026-02-13

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  14. 2026-02-13

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  15. 2026-02-16

    Read third time and passed House (65-Y 33-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  16. 2026-02-17

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. 2026-02-17

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    referral-committee

  18. 2026-02-23

    Senate committee offered

  19. 2026-03-02

    Senate committee offered

  20. 2026-03-02

    Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (8-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  21. 2026-03-04

    Rules suspended

  22. 2026-03-04

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

  23. 2026-03-04

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-03-05

    Read third time

    reading-3

  25. 2026-03-05

    Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  26. 2026-03-05

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  27. 2026-03-05

    Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  28. 2026-03-09

    Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

    amendment-passage

  29. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  30. 2026-03-14

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB636ER)

    passage

  31. 2026-03-14

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  32. 2026-03-14

    Signed by President

    passage

  33. 2026-03-16

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB636)

  34. 2026-03-25

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  35. 2026-03-25

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

    executive-receipt

  36. 2026-04-13

    Governor's recommendation received by House

    executive-veto-line-item

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

    2026-02-05 · pass · 4-2

    Member-level votes (8)
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: not voting
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: not voting
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes

  • Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute

    2026-02-10 · pass · 16-6

    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: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Wren M. Williams: no

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-16 · pass · 65-33

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • 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.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • 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: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • 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: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • 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: no
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment

    2026-03-02 · pass · 8-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • L. Louise Lucas: not voting
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-04 · pass · 39-0

    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: not voting
    • 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

    2026-03-05 · pass · 20-19

    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: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: not voting
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-09 · pass · 63-34

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: not voting
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: not voting
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • 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: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • 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: no
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB636

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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