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SB 215

Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boysko and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia bill SB 215 bans employers from requesting job applicants' prior wage history to promote pay equity and fair salary negotiations.

Governor's recommendation received by Senate
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Bill Summary · SB 215

Legislative bill overview

SB 215 prohibits prospective employers in Virginia from requesting or considering a job applicant's wage or salary history during the hiring process. The bill has progressed through Senate readings and was engrossed with a Commerce and Labor amendment, indicating advancement toward potential passage.

Why is this important

Wage history bans aim to address pay equity by preventing employers from perpetuating past wage disparities when hiring new employees. The policy is intended to give all applicants—particularly women and minorities who historically earn less—a fairer opportunity to negotiate compensation based on the job's requirements rather than their previous earnings.

Potential points of contention

  • Business concerns: Employers argue that salary history helps assess candidate expectations and prevents hiring mismatches; some claim it constrains their ability to evaluate total compensation packages fairly.
  • Definition and enforcement: Questions remain about what constitutes prohibited "seeking" (does asking candidates to voluntarily disclose count?) and how violations would be detected and penalized.
  • Practical limitations: Even with the ban, employers can still access wage information through background checks, reference calls, or public records in some cases, potentially undermining the law's intent.

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

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