Protection of employees; retaliatory action against employee prohibited.
Summary
Protection of employees; retaliatory action against employee prohibited. Prohibits an employer from taking certain retaliatory actions against an employee because the employee or a person acting on the employee's behalf reports any information or allegation in good faith that, if true, amounts to a violation of any federal or state law or regulation to a supervisor, manager, officer, or other employee, or to any governmental body or law-enforcement official, including a report made in the ordinary course of the employee's employment, regardless of whether such report refers to a particular law or regulation. The bill prohibits an employer from (i) taking any action or including any policy in an employee handbook, employment contract, or separation agreement that impedes an employee from disclosing possible or actual illegal activity to the public, a governmental body, or his employer or (ii) taking any disciplinary action in retaliation against an employee for reporting to the public, a governmental body, or his employer any possible or actual violation of any federal or state law or regulation. This bill incorporates HB 722 and HB 1216.
Bill status
failed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Mar 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Substitute
→
Commerce and Labor Substitute
·
6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was transferred from the House to the Senate, changing the title to emphasize 'civil action' and expanding the list of patrons. The most significant substantive changes involve the enforcement and remedy sections: the Senate version adds the power for the Commissioner or Attorney General to investigate and bring administrative proceedings, introduces punitive damages for malicious violations, and extends the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits from one year to two years.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding who can enforce the law was expanded to include administrative agencies, and the scope of available remedies was broadened to include punitive damages.
ENFORCEMENT
Added authority for the Commissioner or Attorney General to investigate violations and bring administrative proceedings.
Extended the statute of limitations for filing civil actions from one year to two years.
REQUIREMENT
Added the possibility of recovering punitive damages if the violation was malicious, willful, or wanton.
Added a specific provision allowing for litigation expenses as a recoverable cost.
Reorganized the structure of the bill, moving the prohibition on employer retaliation to a new subsection and splitting the remedies into a more detailed list.
TECHNICAL
Changed the bill type from 'House Substitute' to 'Senate Substitute' and updated the bill number and proposed committee.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 9, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
42
Key actions
9
Committee
10
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Conference Report released
legislature
Mar 12, 2026
Committee
Senate requested conference committee
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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