Hospital Workplace Violence Incident Report
Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia hospitals must submit an annual report to the Virginia Department of Health that includes the number of incidents of workplace violence voluntarily reported by employees.
This reporting requirement is in addition to other workplace violence incident reporting requirements.
Beginning July 1, 2026, Virginia employees experiencing a lockout are not disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits.
Storage Requirements for Handguns
Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia requires handgun owners to follow strict storage requirements when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle or trunk.
You can learn more about the bill below:
https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB496/text/SB496
Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia employers must include a wage or salary range in each public and internal posting for a job, promotion, transfer, or other employment opportunity.
Employers are also prohibited from seeking or relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the individual for employment or determining the individual's pay.
Statute of Limitations for Discrimination Law
Effective July 1, 2026, the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) is amended to apply uniformly to employers with five or more employees (previously 15 or more, with lower thresholds for certain unlawful discharge claims).
The VHRA is also amended to lengthen the statute of limitations for filing a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination from 300 days to two years after the discriminatory practice occurred.
Effective July 1, 2026, a noncompete agreement between a Virginia employer and employee is unenforceable if the employer discharges the employee without paying severance benefits, unless the discharge is for cause.
Volunteer Emergency Responder Leave Protections
Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia employers are prohibited from terminating or taking other adverse action against employees who fail to report for work because they are serving as a volunteer emergency responder actively responding to an emergency alarm or during a state of emergency declared by the Governor. The leave is unpaid, unless an employee uses their accrued paid leave. Advance notice and certification requirements apply.
A volunteer emergency responder includes members of a volunteer fire department, a volunteer emergency medical services agency, or an auxiliary unit. However, the law does not apply to essential employees.
Live Streaming While Driving
Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia prohibits drivers from initiating, participating in, or manipulating an electronic device in order to interact with any live stream while operating a motor vehicle.
A live stream is defined as a real-time audio or video transmission to any social media platform.