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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A wage theft enforcement bill carried by Del. Alfonso Lopez, who represents portions of Alexandria, has been signed into law as part of a sweeping package of worker protection measures, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Wednesday.
The package also makes Virginia the first state in the South to create a paid family and medical leave program, a milestone hailed Thursday by Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., whose 8th Congressional District includes Alexandria.
"Today, we are making good on our promise to stand up for the men and women who power Virginia's economy," Spanberger said. "Virginia is now the first state in the South to create a paid family and medical leave program. Thanks to this landmark law, millions of Virginians will no longer be forced to give up their paycheck when they welcome a child, or when their loved one faces a serious illness."
Lopez's measure, HB238, establishes a clear enforcement authority for wage theft violations, giving workers who may not be able to pursue legal action on their own a pathway to recover lost wages. Supporters say the bill will help Alexandria-area service and construction workers hold employers accountable while providing clearer guidance to businesses.
The centerpiece of the package is the paid family and medical leave program, created by HB1207, carried by Del. Briana Sewell, and SB2, carried by Sen. Jennifer Boysko. The law establishes a portable insurance program, funded jointly by workers and employers and modeled on unemployment insurance, that will allow Virginians to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for serious health needs, to care for a family member or for parental leave. Spanberger's office said the program will significantly expand access for smaller employers that otherwise could not afford to offer such a benefit.
"I am overjoyed that Virginia has joined the ranks of states guaranteeing paid leave," Beyer said in a statement Thursday. "This is a historic step forward by Governor Spanberger and the General Assembly for affordability, for families, for businesses and workers, and for a better and stronger Commonwealth."
Beyer, who previously helped secure paid leave for federal employees and for veterans in the federal workforce, said he would continue pressing for a national paid leave policy. He used his tenure as chair of Congress' Joint Economic Committee to spotlight the issue.
"Every worker deserves guaranteed paid family and medical leave, and I will continue seeking passage of federal legislation so workers across the country can receive the benefits that Virginians will soon enjoy," Beyer said.
Two additional measures round out the package. HB569, from Del. Michael Feggans, and SB518, from Sen. Aaron Rouse, modernize Virginia's prevailing wage system by directing state agencies to set Virginia-specific rates aligned with local standards rather than relying on federal figures. HB636, from Del. Michelle Maldonado, and SB215, from Boysko, bar employers from seeking or using a job candidate's salary history to set future pay, a change supporters say will narrow wage gaps.
Spanberger said recent polling shows more than 80% of Virginians support a paid family and medical leave program. The new laws build on her earlier efforts to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour and expand workforce training.
"Virginia will now be a stronger place to build a career, grow a family, and start a business," the governor said.
