HB 554 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

State officers and employees; state agencies to establish alternative work schedules.

Summary

State officers and employees; state agencies to establish alternative work schedules; reporting requirement. Adds to the annual reporting requirements of each state agency the requirement to include what percentage of changes to the number of employees participating in telecommuting and alternative work is a result of changes in workforce size, a reclassification of positions, or an expansion of telecommuting and alternative work opportunities and the number of employees approved and denied telecommuting and alternative work eligibility. The bill also requires the Department of Human Resource Management to review and publish on its website the statewide telecommuting and alternative work schedule policy every two years.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senator McPike Substitute → Engrossed · 6 edits · Mar 10, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a mandatory requirement for agencies to establish telecommuting policies to one granting agencies the discretion to do so, with specific provisions for agencies having geographically distinct operations. The changes introduce new requirements for agencies to document justifications for denying telecommuting requests, establish an appeals process for denied employees, and prohibit retaliation against those requesting alternative work arrangements. Additionally, the bill mandates that agencies restore telecommuting agreements held prior to July 2022 unless specific performance or service delivery issues exist.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific protections against retaliation and formalized an appeals process for employees denied telecommuting eligibility, while also clarifying how agencies with regional operations should manage their policies.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for agencies to establish telecommuting policies from mandatory to discretionary, adding a clause for agencies with geographically distinct operations to develop policies regionally.

Added a requirement for agencies to restore telecommuting agreements held prior to July 5, 2022, unless restoring them would cause diminished performance or service delivery.

Modified the reporting requirements to include the justifications for denials and the status of meeting participation goals.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement for agencies to implement a procedure documenting justifications for denying telecommuting eligibility to ensure consistency among employees with similar duties.

Added a new appeals process allowing employees denied telecommuting eligibility to appeal the decision to the agency head or designee.

Added a prohibition on retaliatory conduct against employees who request telecommuting or alternative work schedules.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 927 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB554ER)

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Amended

Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendments (9-Y 6-N)

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (66-Y 32-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (18-Y 3-N)

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on General Laws

lower

0 primary · 4 co-sponsors