2020 Virginia Legislative Session

House of Delegate

Prevailing Wage – HB 833 – Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy

Creates a state prevailing wage set at the rate for Davis Bacon. 

Result – Passed House 55-44, Passed Senate 21-19.  Signed by Governor with effective date of May 2021

PLA Ban Repeal – HB 358 – Delegate Alfonso Lopez

Repeals the Comstock rule banning Public Bodies from requiring Project Labor Agreements.  Will include a local option, and K-12 and higher Ed. 

Result – Passed House 55-43, Passed Senate 21-19. Signed by Governor with effective date of May 2021

Responsible Bidder – HB 1201 – Delegate Kathy Tran

Permits local governments to set standard for a Responsible Bidder when seeking bids on public construction projects.  Example included in the legislation 1) participate in a registered apprenticeship, 2) record of meeting OSHA safety standards, and 3) record of not violating any local, state, or federal laws. 

Result – Passed the House 56-43, Passed Senate 38-2.

Private Right of Action/General Contractor Liability – HB 123 – Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy

Allows workers who are victims of any form of wage theft to take their employer directly to court as oppose to the Department of Labor and Industry.  It also ensures that the General Contractor is liable if one of their subcontractors is cheating worker.  

Result – Passed the House 52-45-1, Passed the Senate 22-18, Signed by Governor effective July 1, 2020.

Repeal of Right to work – HB 153 –Delegate Lee Carter

Repeals Virginia’s Right to Work Law. 

Result – Passed Labor and Commerce 12-9, Left in Appropriations.

Whistle Blower Protection – HB 1199 – Delegate Kathy Tran

Protects workers who file a wage theft complaint from retaliation from their employers for filing the complaint. 

Result – Passed House 52-44, Passed Senate 21-19. Signed by Governor effective July 1, 2020

State Senate

Prevailing Wage – SB 8 – Senator Dick Saslaw

Creates a state prevailing wage set at the rate for Davis Bacon. 

Result – Passed Senate 20-20, Passed the House 54-44. Signed by Governor with effective date of May 2021

PLA Ban Repeal – 182 – Senator Dick Saslaw

Repeals the Comstock rule banning Public Bodies from requiring Project Labor Agreements Result –  Passed the Senate 21-19, Passed the House 55-45. Signed by Governor with effective date of May 2021

Responsible Bidder – SB 380 – Senator Jeremy McPike

Permits local governments to set standard for what a Responsible Bidder is when seeking bids on public construction projects.

Result – Passed Senate 44-0, Passed the House 55-45. Sign by Governor effective July 1, 2020

Private Right of Action/General Contractor Liability – SB 838 – Senator Adam Ebbin

Permits worked who are victims of and form of wage theft to skip the process with the Department of Labor and Industry and take their employer directly to court.  It also ensures that the General Contract is liable if one of their subcontractors is cheating worker.  

Result – Passed the Senate 22-18.  Passed the House 52-45-1.

Whistle Blower Protection – SB 662 – Senator Jennifer Boysko

Protects workers who file a wage theft complaint from retaliation from their employers for filing the complaint.

Result – Passed Senate 25-13, Passed House 55-44. Signed by Governor effective July 1, 2020.