Virginia House Passes Bill Mandating Paid Sick Leave

Legislation would require employers to provide one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Virginia House of Delegates voted along party lines to pass a bill that would mandate employers provide paid sick leave to their employees. The legislation would require employers to grant one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year. The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to improve affordability and financial stability for Virginia workers by guaranteeing paid time off for illness or family care. However, some business groups have raised concerns about the potential compliance challenges and costs for employers, especially small businesses.

The details

The bill passed in the Democrat-controlled Virginia House and would apply the paid sick leave requirement to all employers in the state. Currently, only home health workers have a similar mandate. The legislation would not allow employees to accrue or carry over more than 40 hours of paid sick leave per year, unless the employer elects a higher limit.

  • The Virginia House of Delegates voted to pass the bill on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.

The players

Virginia House of Delegates

The lower chamber of the Virginia General Assembly, which voted to pass the paid sick leave bill.

Governor Abigail Spanberger

The current Governor of Virginia, who has indicated support for both the paid sick leave and paid family/medical leave proposals.

Rhena Hicks

The co-executive director of the progressive advocacy group Freedom Virginia, who praised the paid sick leave legislation as providing "peace of mind and financial stability" for Virginia workers.

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What they’re saying

“This legislation will give millions of Virginians peace of mind and financial stability all while strengthening our workforce and economy.”

— Rhena Hicks, Co-Executive Director, Freedom Virginia (pilotonline.com)

“We can be the best state for business and the best state for working families. That is not an either/or proposition. That is why we will create a statewide paid family and medical leave program, guarantee paid sick days, increase access to Virginia's child care subsidy program, and yes, Virginia — at long last — raise our minimum wage to $15 an hour.”

— Governor Abigail Spanberger (pilotonline.com)

What’s next

The paid sick leave bill will now move to the Virginia State Senate for consideration. If passed by the Senate, it would then go to Governor Spanberger for signature into law.

The takeaway

This legislation represents a significant step forward for worker protections and benefits in Virginia, though it faces opposition from some business groups concerned about the potential costs and compliance challenges. The bill's passage reflects the state's Democratic leadership's priority on improving affordability and financial security for working families.