Labor and Commerce

Thursday, February 26, 2026·1h 6m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced dozens of bills in a single session, conforming most to their House counterparts, while recording split votes on health insurance mandates (contraceptive coverage, cancer drug access), motor vehicle insurance credit-score rating, and several labor-market bills — and reversed a prior 20-to-19 vote on SB25 by reconsidering and unanimously sending it to Appropriations.

Key Actions

·SB25 – Reconsidered and Referred to AppropriationsNo Vote

+ 12 more actions

Controversies

SB25 reversal of prior narrow vote

The bill had previously passed the committee 20 to 19, a near-tie result. The Chair brought the bill back on a motion to reconsider; no named member objected on the record, and the reconsidered vote to report and refer to Appropriations passed 16 to 0.

+ 1 more controversy

Notable Quotes

“We do appreciate the delegate and senators time and willingness to consider amendments. We support the bill as amended that maintains the minimum wage exemption for H2A and H2B. We also appreciate the patrons commitment to continued dialogue. And we stand ready to keep working together on H2A and H2B issues to ensure policies that remain fair, workable and sustainable for both farmers and workers.”
Rachel Henley, Virginia Farm Bureau — Henley testified in support of SB121, which maintains a minimum wage exemption for H2A and H2B agricultural guest workers, after the Chair made an unusual procedural exception to allow groups whose positions had changed to voice support.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

SB25 – Report and refer to Appropriations (after reconsideration)Passed

SB361 – Report with substitutePassed

SB72 – ReportPassed

SB256 – ReportPassed

SB693 – Report with amendmentsPassed

SB642 – Report and refer to AppropriationsPassed

SB199 – Conform and report with substitutePassed

SB621 – Report as isPassed

SB644 – Conform and report with substitutePassed

SB652 – ReportPassed

SB818 – ReportPassed

SB382 – Conform with substitute, report, and refer to AppropriationsPassed

SB253 – Conform with substitute and reportPassed

SB175 – Report as amendedPassed

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TranscriptPreview

Commerce members, please be seated. And I'll ask the clerk to open the roll to take attendance. And we have a quorum. We're going to begin with one administrative action. And it is to Senate Bill 25. It's a bill that we pass 20 to 19. But we have a motion to reconsider this. This is a voice vote. Madam Chair, I move we reconsider our previous motion. Motion to report second, then properly moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Madam Chair, I now move that we report and refer to Appropriations. Spirit move that we report and refer to Appropriations. Are we ready to cast our votes? And the clerk shall close the roll. The bill is reported and referred to appropriation, 16 to 0. Now we will move on to our subcommittee reports. We'll begin with Subcommittee two. Chair Lopez. Thank. Thank you, Madam Chair. We had one bill that got out of Subcommittee 2. It's SB100 from Senator Stanley regarding protection of employees, volunteer emergency responders and civil action. Madam Chair, this bill prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining, threatening, discriminating against or penalizing an employee or taking other retaliatory…

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