Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1164: Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1164 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees. Primary sponsor: Nicole Cole (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 10, 2026): Incorporated by Labor and Commerce (HB636-Maldonado) (Voice Vote).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
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.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole Cole | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 66 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Incorporated by Labor and Commerce (HB636-Maldonado) (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1164)
- Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
- Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103969D