SB 2: Paid family and medical leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action. - Virginia

Appropriations Substitute → Governor Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised from a House Substitute to a Governor Substitute, primarily changing the bill's title to reflect a 'penalty' provision and adjusting the scope of the new chapter to end at section 60.2-818 instead of 60.2-821. While the core text of the new Paid Family and Medical Leave program appears identical in the provided excerpt, the structural changes indicate the Governor's intent to finalize the legislation with specific attention to enforcement penalties and a slightly different organizational structure for the new chapter.

Scope change

The scope of the new chapter was reduced by removing sections 60.2-819 through 60.2-821, which originally covered public education, technology sharing, and the establishment of an Advisory Board. The title was also updated to include 'penalty' and 'civil action' to highlight enforcement mechanisms.

TITLE

The bill title was updated to include 'penalty' and 'civil action' and changed from 'House Substitute' to 'Senate Substitute' (Governor Substitute).

SCOPE

The list of sections included in the new Chapter 8 was shortened, removing sections 60.2-819 through 60.2-821 (Public Education, Technology Sharing, and Advisory Board).

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated from 26109198D to 26110396D, and the session header was changed to reflect the Governor's substitute status.

Labor and Commerce Substitute → Appropriations Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended from a House Substitute to an Appropriations Substitute, changing the committee proposing the amendment from Labor and Commerce to Appropriations. The substantive text of the legislation regarding the paid family and medical leave insurance program remains identical, including all definitions, eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, and implementation timelines.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's content and applicability remains unchanged; only the procedural header and committee attribution were modified.

TECHNICAL

The proposing committee was changed from the House Committee on Labor and Commerce to the House Committee on Appropriations, and the bill number was updated from 26109083D to 26109198D.

Senator McDougle Substitute → Labor and Commerce Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The Labor and Commerce Substitute amends the Senate's original bill by replacing the complex, multi-column table defining short-term disability benefit percentages with a single, clear sentence. This change simplifies the statute by explicitly setting the benefit replacement rates at 80% for the first 60 months of service and 100% thereafter, eliminating ambiguity in the previous formatting.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on establishing a paid family and medical leave insurance program and modifying related insurance and state employee leave provisions; however, the clarity of the short-term disability benefit calculation rules has been improved.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced a confusing, multi-column table layout for short-term disability benefits with a straightforward sentence explicitly stating that benefits replace 80% of wages for the first 60 months of state service and 100% thereafter.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and text errors in the short-term disability section, such as removing duplicate headers and fixing broken table structures to ensure the law is readable and unambiguous.

Finance and Appropriations Substitute → Senator McDougle Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand its scope by adding the Department of Human Resource Management and § 51.1-1110 to the list of affected statutes, and to correct a clerical error in the bill's title. The substantive policy content regarding the paid family and medical leave program, including definitions, eligibility, benefits, and funding, remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include the Department of Human Resource Management and a specific section (§ 51.1-1110) in the list of statutes being amended, and the bill's title was updated to reflect these additions.

TECHNICAL

Added the Department of Human Resource Management and § 51.1-1110 to the list of Code of Virginia sections being amended and reenacted.

Corrected the bill's title to include the Department of Human Resource Management and § 51.1-1110.

Added a reference to § 51.1-1110 in the description of the bill's purpose.

Commerce and Labor Substitute → Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the legislative text for a paid family and medical leave program, primarily changing the committee responsible for the substitute from Commerce and Labor to Finance and Appropriations. The substantive policy content, including eligibility rules, benefit amounts, funding mechanisms, and program timelines, remains identical between the two versions.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's policy provisions has not changed; only the administrative header and committee attribution were updated.

TECHNICAL

The committee proposing the substitute was changed from the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, reflecting the bill's movement through the legislative process.

The bill number in the header was updated from 26106524D to 26107838D, likely an internal tracking update.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the text layout and spacing, but the legal language and structure of the sections remain the same.

Enrolled → Commerce and Labor Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text was converted from an 'Enrolled' version into a 'Commerce and Labor Substitute' draft, which is a procedural change indicating the Senate has proposed amendments before final passage. Substantively, the policy content regarding paid family leave, eligibility, funding, and enforcement remains identical to the original version, with no changes to dates, benefit amounts, or legal requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the text now reflects a Senate-submitted substitute version rather than the final enrolled law.

TECHNICAL

The document header was changed from 'Enrolled' to 'OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION' and marked as a 'Commerce and Labor Substitute,' indicating this is a working draft for Senate review rather than the final enacted law.

Formatting and line breaks were adjusted to match standard legislative draft styles, but the actual policy language, section numbers, and substantive provisions were not altered.

Introduced → Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 31, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled, adding a new paid family and medical leave insurance program to the Code of Virginia. This program allows employees and self-employed individuals to take leave with wage replacement for specific family and medical reasons, funded by employer and employee payroll contributions starting in 2028.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a proposed new chapter to an enacted law that also amends existing insurance licensing statutes to include 'paid family and medical leave insurance' as a licensable class.

TECHNICAL

The document status changed from 'Introduced' to 'Enrolled', indicating the bill has passed both houses and been signed into law.

SCOPE

New sections 38.2-107.2 and 38.2-107.3 were added to the insurance code to formally define 'private family leave insurance' and 'paid family and medical leave insurance' as licensable insurance classes.

Section 38.2-316 was amended to require that policy forms and rate manuals for paid family and medical leave insurance be filed with and approved by the insurance commission.

FISCAL

A new Trust Fund was established to collect payroll contributions from employers and employees, with benefits beginning in 2029.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria were created for individuals to take leave for childbirth, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, military exigencies, or seeking safety services from domestic violence.

REQUIREMENT

Employers are required to provide written notice to employees about their rights and to maintain health benefits during leave.

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions were added to prohibit retaliation against employees who take leave and to establish civil penalties for violations.

Paid family and medical leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action.

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