Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1344: Employee protection; prohibited retaliation, prohibited nondisclosure & nondisparagement provisions.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1344 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 12, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Employee protection; prohibited retaliation, prohibited nondisclosure & nondisparagement provisions. Primary sponsor: Delores McQuinn (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (November 18, 2024): Left in Labor and Commerce.
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.
Employee protection; prohibited retaliation; prohibited nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions; civil action. Prohibits the inclusion of a provision in any employment contract that has the purpose or effect of concealing illegal activity or activity an employee believes to be unlawful, including unlawful sexual harassment, discrimination, wage theft, and protected whistleblowing, as those terms are described in existing law. Under the bill's provisions, no employer shall discharge or otherwise retaliate against an employee, prospective employee, or independent contractor for disclosing or discussing conduct that such employee reasonably believes to be discrimination, including harassment, retaliation, a wage or hour violation, sexual assault, fraud against taxpayers, shareholders, the government, consumers, or other employees, or other conduct that is against a clear mandate of public policy. An employer that violates the provisions of the bill shall be liable for the greater of actual damages or statutory damages of $10,000, as well as reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill also requires employers to include in any settlement agreement or employment agreement with an employee a disclaimer that such agreement does not prohibit an employee from disclosing conduct as protected under the bill. The provisions of the bill apply to contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or amended on or after July 1, 2024.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delores McQuinn | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 81 |
| Barbara Favola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 40 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Labor and Commerce
- Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote)
- Impact statement from DPB (HB1344)
- Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2
- Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- Presented and ordered printed 24105208D