SB 258 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia Human Rights Act; reasonable accommodation for known limitations related to menopause.

Summary

Virginia Human Rights Act; menopause or perimenopause; discrimination prohibited; report. Prohibits discrimination under the Virginia Human Rights Act on the basis of menopause or perimenopause for purposes of nondiscrimination in government programs, public accommodation, employment hiring, and reasonable employer accommodation. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce, menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments, and the scope of existing menopause-related and perimenopause-related policies and to develop best practices related to menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments. The bill directs the Commissioners to submit such report to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2028, and to post such report on the Department of Labor and Industry's website. This bill is identical to HB 1173.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Vetoed Apr 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process Subcommittee Substitute → Governor Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a broad amendment of the Virginia Human Rights Act to a focused directive for the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to conduct a specific study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce. The original text proposing new anti-discrimination laws and reasonable accommodation requirements was removed, while a detailed mandate for a study on workplace accommodations, insurance coverage, and healthcare access was added.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from amending the Code of Virginia to add menopause as a protected category and establishing legal rights for reasonable accommodations to directing state officials to conduct a study on these issues.

REQUIREMENT

Removed provisions that would have amended the Virginia Human Rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on menopause or perimenopause and to require employers to provide reasonable accommodations.

Added a requirement for the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to conduct a comprehensive study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce.

DEFINITION

Removed the addition of 'menopause or perimenopause' to the list of protected characteristics in the definitions section of the Human Rights Act.

TIMELINE

Set a deadline of July 1, 2028, for the Commissioners to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.

SCOPE

Expanded the study's scope to include health insurance coverage, therapeutic treatments, access to healthcare professionals, awareness policies, and health care spending accounts.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 23, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Jan 23, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 11, 2026

Vetoed

Governor's recommendation received by Senate

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB258ER)

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from General Laws with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Committee

Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred from Health and Human Services and referred to General Laws (Voice Vote)

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor