State Sen. Barbara A. Favola has proposed new legislation that seeks to expand paid sick leave protections for workers in Virginia, according to the Virginia State Senate.
The measure, filed as SB199 on Jan. 14, 2026, during the regular session, is formally titled: “Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.”
Below is a summary based on the bill text, including clarifying interpretation of its details.
Essentially, the measure extends Virginia’s paid sick leave rules to cover home health workers and, eventually, most employers beginning July 1, 2027. It mandates a minimum accrual rate of 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours annually unless an employer allows additional time. The legislation permits unused hours to carry over, allows reinstatement upon rehire, defines eligible employees and family members, and specifies valid reasons for leave such as illness, preventive care, or issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Employers would not be allowed to require replacement workers or request health details. The measure includes limited exemptions for certain health care staff, requires employee notification and recordkeeping, prohibits retaliation, and sets up enforcement, civil penalties and private lawsuits with potential double damages plus attorney fees.
The sponsors are Sen. Barbara A. Favola (Democrat-40th District), Sen. Aaron R. Rouse (Democrat-22nd District), Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (Democrat-39th District), joined by 17 additional co-sponsors.
Since the session began, Favola has sponsored 18 more bills.
Favola earned a BS from Saint Joseph College in 1977.
Favola, a Democrat, was elected to serve the 40th District in the Virginia State Senate in 2024, succeeding former senator Todd Pillion.
In Virginia, the legislative process starts when a bill is introduced in either the Senate or House of Delegates. It is then assigned to one or more committees for review and potential revisions. Following committee approval, the full chamber debates and votes. If the measure passes both chambers, it goes to the governor for signature, veto or enactment without signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets annually starting the second Monday in January. Hundreds of bills are introduced each session, but only a fraction become law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara A. Favola, Aaron R. Rouse, Adam P. Ebbin, Angelia Williams Graves, Danica A. Roem, David W. Marsden, Jennifer B. Boysko, Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Kannan Srinivasan, L. Louise Lucas, Lamont Bagby, Lashrecse D. Aird, Mamie E. Locke, Michael J. Jones, R. Creigh Deeds, Russet Perry, Saddam Azlan Salim, Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, Scott A. Surovell, and Stella G. Pekarsky | SB199 | 01/14/2026 | Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Christie New Craig | SB33 | 01/14/2026 | Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB34 | 01/14/2026 | Incapacitated persons; finding of lack of capacity to understand act of voting. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Russet Perry | SB37 | 01/14/2026 | Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity; accrual. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB38 | 01/14/2026 | Firearms; transfers to another person from a prohibited person. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Angelia Williams Graves | SB58 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. |
| Barbara A. Favola, David R. Suetterlein, Holly M. Seibold, and Irene Shin | SB64 | 01/14/2026 | Juveniles; commitment to DJJ, petition to extend duration of indeterminate commitment. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB70 | 01/14/2026 | Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB90 | 01/14/2026 | Equity in public school funding and staffing; At-Risk Program established, Standards of Quality. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB125 | 01/14/2026 | Children’s Ombudsman, Office of the; powers and duties, report. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Mark D. Obenshain | SB171 | 01/14/2026 | Minor elementary or secondary school students admitted to inpatient treatment; discl. of discharge. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB177 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, consumer reproductive/sexual health information. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB247 | 01/14/2026 | Nursing homes; application to Commissioner of Health for change of operator license, civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB257 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB269 | 01/14/2026 | Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Alfonso H. Lopez | SB296 | 01/14/2026 | County manager plan of government; affordable dwelling unit ordinance. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB332 | 01/14/2026 | Medical marijuana; administration to terminally ill patients. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB418 | 01/14/2026 | Therapeutic interchange; authorizes pharmacists to perform, adaptation of prescriptions. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB421 | 01/14/2026 | Pharmacist; remote verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs. |
