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SB 1052

Virginia Human Rights Act; definition of "employer."

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Adam Ebbin

SB 1052 expands Virginia anti-discrimination protections to smaller employers, but Governor's veto was sustained, blocking the expansion from becoming law.

Senate sustained Governor's veto
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1052

Legislative bill overview

SB 1052 expands the definition of "employer" under Virginia's Human Rights Act to include smaller businesses, likely lowering the employee threshold that triggers coverage under the state's anti-discrimination protections. The bill was passed by the legislature but was vetoed by the Governor on March 24, 2025, and the Senate did not have sufficient votes to override the veto.

Why is this important

Expanding employer coverage would extend anti-discrimination protections to workers at smaller companies who currently may lack legal recourse for workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics. However, the Governor's veto and lack of veto override indicate disagreement over the scope or implementation of this expansion, reflecting a policy disagreement between the legislative and executive branches.

Potential points of contention

  • Burden on small businesses: Lowering the employer threshold may increase compliance costs and legal liability for small employers unfamiliar with federal/state anti-discrimination requirements
  • Practical enforcement questions: Unclear whether smaller employers have adequate resources and infrastructure to meet expanded obligations compared to larger corporations
  • Threshold specificity: The exact employee count at which protections would apply is a common source of disagreement, balancing worker protection against business viability

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

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