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Bill

HB 2531

Paid family and medical leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bonita Anthony and 47 co-sponsors

Virginia's failed paid family and medical leave insurance bill would have created mandatory employer-employee payroll contributions funding wage replacement during qualifying life events before Governor vetoed it.

Requires 64 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2531

Legislative bill overview

HB 2531 would establish a paid family and medical leave insurance program in Virginia, creating a social insurance system that provides wage replacement benefits to workers taking leave for qualifying events like childbirth, serious health conditions, or family care. The bill includes provisions for employer and employee contributions, notice requirements for eligible leave, and establishes civil action mechanisms for enforcement of benefits.

Why is this important

This legislation addresses a significant gap in Virginia's labor protections—most private sector workers lack access to paid family leave, placing financial hardship on workers during critical life events. The bill would create a mandatory insurance model similar to unemployment insurance, funded through payroll contributions, affecting millions of workers and thousands of employers across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and payroll contributions: Disputes over the appropriate contribution rates for employers and employees and concerns about how costs are distributed between parties
  • Program administration and funding: Questions about whether the insurance pool will be self-sustaining, what happens to unfunded liabilities, and how the program is operationally managed
  • Scope of qualifying events: Disagreement over which life events qualify for benefits and whether the definitions are appropriately broad or too expansive
  • Small business impact: Concerns that mandatory payroll contributions disproportionately burden small employers with limited HR infrastructure
  • Federal coordination: Unclear interaction with federal protections (FMLA) and how state and federal leave requirements work together

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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