Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 923: Protection of employees; stay or pay contracts prohibited, civil penalty.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 923 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Protection of employees; stay or pay contracts prohibited, civil penalty. Primary sponsor: Alfonso Lopez (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (March 9, 2026): Failed to report from Commerce and Labor with substitute (6-Y 9-N).
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.
Protection of employees; stay or pay contracts prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits an employer from entering into, enforcing, or threatening to enforce a stay or pay contract, as defined in the bill, with any employee, with certain exceptions described. An employer that violates the bill's provisions is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000. The bill allows an employee to bring a civil action against an employer or other person that attempts to enforce a stay or pay contract and to seek appropriate relief, including enjoining the conduct of any person or employer, ordering payment of liquidated damages, and awarding lost compensation, damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill provides that if the court finds a violation of the bill's provisions, the plaintiff is entitled to recover reasonable costs, including reasonable fees for expert witnesses, and attorney fees.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfonso Lopez | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 3 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Failed to report from Commerce and Labor with substitute (6-Y 9-N)
- Senate committee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB923)
- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
- Engrossed by House as amended
- committee amendments agreed to
- Read second time
- Read first time
- Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N)
- Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 1-N)
Showing 12 most recent of 16 actions. Full history