For Immediate Release: February 3, 2022. 
 

Legislative Contacts:

Leo Priddy

Assistant Vice President

marketing@montgomerycc.org

Margaret Appleby

Legislative Intern

legislative@montgomerycc.org

Getting Legislation to the Governor's Desk & Minimum Wage Legislation: Week Four of the 2022 Virginia Legislative Session

After a bill has gone through both houses of the General Assembly and squared any differences in a Committee of Conference, it is printed as an “enrolled bill” and read and signed by the presiding officers of both houses. It is then sent to the Governor who has several different options. The first being that they may sign the bill into law right away. They may also amend the bill to their liking and send it back to the General Assembly for approval. The third option the governor has is to veto the bill and send it back to the General Assembly. Here, the House of Delegates and Senate can override the veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses. They may also take no action and thus allow the bill to become law without the Governor’s signature. 

When a bill is signed by the Governor, it is sent back to the Clerk of the House of Delegates where it is assigned a “chapter number”. All signed bills are then compiled into what is called the “Acts of Assembly”. Bills passed during a regular session are effective on the 1st July following adjourned sessions, unless otherwise specified. Bills passed during a special session are effective the 1st day of the fourth month following the adjourned session, unless otherwise specified.

 

This week we have introduced a new color-coding system for our bill-tracking.

• Bills highlighted in green have been voted on and passed at least one chamber in the General Assembly.
• Bills highlighted in red are effectively "dead" and unlikely to see further legislative action this session.
• Finally, bills highlighted in yellow are likely to be voted on by either the House of Delegates, Senate, or both chambers in the immediate future.
• Here is a great time to contact your legislator to voice your support (or opposition) to that bill.
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This week your Chamber wanted to highlight three bills related to increasing the minimum wage in Virginia.

The first bill is HB 1040 Minimum Wage; small employers. This bill, introduced by Del. P. Scott would exempt individuals or entities with ten or fewer employees from state minimum wage requirements. As of February 2, 2022 this bill has been referred to the House Committee on Commerce and Energy Subcommittee #2.

These next two bills should be considered together. HB 320, introduced by Del. Freitas and HB 296, introduced by Del. McNamara (Roanoke) have both passed the House, each by a vote of 51-48 on February 2, 2022. Both bills have been subsequently received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor. HB 320 outlines the proposed terms for minimum wage increases in Virginia, proposing that from on and after January 1, 2022, employers in Virginia may not pay their employees less than $11.00 per hour or less than the federal minimum wage. It strikes existing increases in previously passed legislation. HB 296 defines and outlines the terms and types of employment not covered by those increases in the minimum wage. Examples of those types of employees not covered by those increases in minimum wage include farm workers and summer camp employees. The bill also further clarifies minimum wage increases as it relates to tipped employees.