Governor Spanberger Proposes Amendments to Protect Workers and Support Employers

Amendments aim to clarify implementation details and provide flexibility for public and private employers.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:22am

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A serene, nostalgic painting of a lone politician standing in a sunlit government building hallway, the floor cast in deep shadows, conveying a sense of contemplation and the nuanced challenges of policymaking.The Governor's proposed amendments aim to balance the needs of workers and employers, ensuring new labor laws benefit all Virginians.Richmond Today

Governor Abigail Spanberger has submitted amendments to several pieces of worker protection legislation, including bills on collective bargaining for public employees, paid sick leave, and paid family and medical leave. The Governor's amendments are intended to make it easier for public and private employers to understand and follow the new laws, acknowledging differences in how industries operate and providing more flexibility for implementation.

Why it matters

These worker protection policies are seen as important steps forward for working Virginians, but the Governor wants to ensure they are implemented effectively and in a way that supports both workers and employers. By proposing amendments, the Governor aims to find a balance between being pro-worker and pro-business, recognizing that Virginia's economic success has historically come from supporting both.

The details

The Governor's amendments clarify definitions and implementation details for the paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and collective bargaining bills. For paid sick leave, the amendments aim to make compliance straightforward for employers across industries. For paid family and medical leave, the amendments define program development, bring the program in line with federal policy, and provide employer clarity. For collective bargaining, the amendments give localities more flexibility in setting up bargaining and clarify that agreements with budget implications remain subject to local government approval.

  • Governor Spanberger submitted the amendments on April 14, 2026.

The players

Governor Abigail Spanberger

The Governor of Virginia who has proposed amendments to worker protection legislation.

Virginia General Assembly

The state legislature that has sent worker protection bills to the Governor.

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What they’re saying

“The General Assembly has sent me several bills that will make Virginia a better place to work and raise a family — including legislation allowing collective bargaining by public employees, paid sick leave, and paid family and medical leave. I want to make clear that I support the purpose of every one of these bills. I made commitments to Virginia's workers to sign legislation into law to make our Commonwealth stronger, and I intend to keep them.”

— Governor Abigail Spanberger

“These are policies that matter deeply to me and to working Virginians, and my amendments are about making sure that when these laws take effect, they work — for workers, for businesses, and for the localities and the Commonwealth that will implement them. These programs are tools Virginia's employers can use to attract and retain talent.”

— Governor Abigail Spanberger

“I know some people think Virginia has to choose between being pro-worker and pro-business, but I reject that — because our economic success has always come from supporting both. As a Commonwealth, this is not an either-or proposition, and these bills reflect that. In the end, we need to get these new laws right from the beginning, which is what my amendments seek to enable.”

— Governor Abigail Spanberger

What’s next

The Virginia General Assembly will review and consider the Governor's proposed amendments before finalizing the worker protection legislation.

The takeaway

Governor Spanberger's proposed amendments aim to balance the needs of workers and employers in Virginia, recognizing that the state's economic success has historically come from supporting both. By clarifying implementation details and providing flexibility, the Governor hopes to ensure the new worker protection laws are effective and beneficial for all.