Protection of employees; standards for heat illness prevention, report.

The deadline for the Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt regulations was extended from May 1, 2027, to May 1, 2028.

The definition of 'employer' was shortened by removing a specific citation to a Virginia Administrative Code section, making the language slightly more general.

A new exemption was created for heat exposure lasting no longer than 15 consecutive minutes, meaning employers do not need to follow heat illness prevention rules during these brief periods.

The temperature threshold for triggering high-heat procedures was changed from a fixed 80 degrees Fahrenheit to a flexible standard set by the Board, allowing for future adjustments based on new data.

The list of emergency services exempt from the bill's requirements was expanded to include emergency highway construction or maintenance.

The composition requirements for the advisory panel were updated to explicitly require members from the agriculture, business, and higher education sectors in addition to employee advocates.

The deadline for the Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt regulations changed from November 1, 2026, to May 1, 2027.

New subsections were added to specify that regulations are enforced under existing safety codes (§§ 40.1-49.3 through 40.1-49.7).

Workers gained the right to file a lawsuit in court to stop violations and recover $1,000 statutory damages per violation, plus attorney fees.

Employers who knowingly violate the rules face an additional $1,000 liquidated damages penalty per violation.

The threshold for mandatory high-heat procedures was clarified to trigger when the heat index equals or exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The advisory panel required to assist in developing regulations must now include stakeholders from public institutions of higher education.

The definition of 'Employer' was slightly shortened by removing the specific reference to the Virginia Administrative Code citation.

Deleted the provision allowing workers to file lawsuits in court for heat illness violations, recover $1,000 statutory damages per violation, and receive attorney fees.

Changed the deadline from adopting regulations by May 1, 2027, to producing a report with cost estimates and an implementation plan by November 1, 2026.

Added a requirement for the Safety and Health Codes Board to submit a report to both Senate and House committee chairs detailing findings, costs, and the plan for future regulations.

Updated the citation for the Virginia Administrative Code from '16VAC25-60-10' to '16VAC25-60' and adjusted line numbering and formatting.