VA SB 170
enactedProtection of employees; covenants not to compete, discharged employees.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did VA SB 170 pass?
Yes. VA SB 170 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 883 (effective 7/1/2026)
What is VA SB 170 about?
Protection of employees; covenants not to compete; discharged employees. Provides that no covenant not to compete, as such term is defined in existing law, between an employer and an employee is enforceable if such employer discharges such employee from employment without providing severance benefits or other monetary payment to such employee that is disclosed upon execution of the covenant not to compete, unless the employee is discharged for cause. This bill incorporates SB 569.
Who sponsors VA SB 170?
Jeremy S. McPike is the primary sponsor of VA SB 170.
Description
Protection of employees; covenants not to compete; discharged employees. Provides that no covenant not to compete, as such term is defined in existing law, between an employer and an employee is enforceable if such employer discharges such employee from employment without providing severance benefits or other monetary payment to such employee that is disclosed upon execution of the covenant not to compete, unless the employee is discharged for cause. This bill incorporates SB 569.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-08
- Latest action
- 2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 883 (effective 7/1/2026)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Jeremy S. McPikeprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 883 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
2026-03-14
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-03-14
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-11
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB170)
2026-03-10
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-10
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-10
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB170ER)
passage
2026-03-10
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-04
Passed House (87-Y 12-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-04
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-03
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-27
Reported from Appropriations (18-Y 4-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-25
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
referral-committee
2026-02-24
Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-19
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-17
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
referral-committee
2026-02-12
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
referral-committee
2026-02-12
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-12
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-10
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB170)
2026-02-06
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-05
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
substitution
2026-02-05
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05
Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
2026-02-05
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-04
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-04
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-04
Rules suspended
2026-02-03
Substitute bill reprinted 26107018D
2026-02-03
Committee substitute printed 26107018D-S1
substitution
2026-02-02
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (13-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-02
Senate committee offered
2026-02-02
Incorporates SB569 (Sturtevant)
2026-02-02
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB170)
2026-01-08
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
referral-committee
2026-01-08
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100309D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute
2026-02-02 · pass · 13-0
Member-level votes (15)
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: not voting
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Lamont Bagby: not voting
Constitutional reading dispensed R
2026-02-04 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: 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
- Adam P. Ebbin: 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
Passage R
2026-02-06 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: 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
- Adam P. Ebbin: 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
Subcommittee recommends reporting
2026-02-19 · pass · 7-0
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: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
Reported from Labor and Commerce
2026-02-24 · pass · 22-0
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: yes
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
Reported from Appropriations
2026-02-27 · pass · 18-4
Member-level votes (22)
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- James W. Morefield: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
H VOTE:
2026-03-04 · pass · 87-12
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- 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: no
- 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.: no
- 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: no
- 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: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- 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: 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: no
- Madison Whittle: yes
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
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