SB 1 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Minimum wage; increases incrementally to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2028.

Summary
Minimum wage. Increases the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2028. The bill codifies the adjusted state hourly minimum wage of $12.77 per hour that is effective January 1, 2026, and increases the minimum wage to $13.75 per hour effective January 1, 2027, and to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2028. Effective January 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, the bill requires the minimum wage to be adjusted to reflect increases in the consumer price index. This bill is identical to HB 1.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Nov 17, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 351 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive text of the minimum wage statute remains identical to the previous version, with no changes to wage rates, effective dates, or employer obligations.
Scope change
None; the bill's scope and applicability are unchanged.
TECHNICAL

The document was converted from a draft bill format to a final enacted law format, adding official chapter numbers, approval dates, and standard legislative headers.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 12, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Apr 8, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 351 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1ER)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (62-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (7-Y 6-N)
upper
Nov 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
1 primary · 19 co-sponsors

Sponsors