Immigration

Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status; civil penalty. Prohibits an employer, including the Commonwealth and its agencies and political subdivisions, from using coercion or issuing a threat to an employee based on immigration status in furtherance of committing a violation of the Virginia Minimum Wage Act or provisions related to the payment of wages. An aggrieved employee is permitted to file a complaint with the Commissioner of Labor and Industry within 180 days of the alleged coercive action or threat. The bill authorizes the Commissioner to investigate such complaints and, if the allegation is substantiated, to impose a civil penalty in the following amounts: (i) up to $5,000 for the first violation, (ii) up to $9,000 for the second violation, and (iii) up to $12,000 for any subsequent violation. The bill provides that any such penalty assessed shall be paid to the Commissioner for deposit into the General Fund. The bill also authorizes the Commissioner to seek injunctive relief as may be necessary for enforcement.

Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees. Eliminates the exemption from Virginia's minimum wage requirements for persons employed as farm laborers or farm employees. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to HB 20.

Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees. Eliminates the exemption from Virginia's minimum wage requirements for persons employed as farm laborers or farm employees. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to SB 121.

Migrant labor camp permits; expiration. Removes the annual December 31 expiration date for all issued migrant labor camp permits and provides that such permits expire 12 months from the date of issuance.

Public institutions of higher education; tuition and mandatory fees charged to Virginia students. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the general appropriation act, law, regulation, or policy to the contrary, (i) for the purpose of state support for Virginia students at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, all fees associated with essential student services, including fees for student health services, student immigration services, and student technology services, shall be considered part of the tuition and mandatory education and general fees charged to such students and (ii) no public institution of higher education shall annually increase the total of all mandatory non-education and general fees charged to Virginia students by more than three percent of the total of such fees charged to Virginia students for the immediately preceding academic year.