What happened?

The Virginia House of Delegates passed HB 1919 on March 7, 2025, to require large employers to implement workplace violence prevention policies by January 1, 2027. Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed the bill on March 24, 2025.

Overview:

Governor’s Veto: Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed HB 1919, explaining that the bill misclassified workplace violence as a regulatory issue rather than a criminal matter.

• He argued that employers could establish workplace policies and that existing laws provide recourse for victims through law enforcement and civil courts.

• He noted that the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program can already address workplace hazards, making the mandate duplicative and burdensome.

Additional Information:

Overview of House Bill 1919 (HB 1919)

• Amendments to Existing Law
  • Retaliatory Action Prohibited: Employers cannot retaliate against employees for reporting violations, participating in investigations, refusing to engage in criminal acts, or reporting workplace violence.

• New Requirements for Employers
  • Workplace Violence Policy: Employers with 100 or more employees must develop, implement, and maintain a workplace violence policy by January 1, 2027.
  • Policy Components: The policy must include procedures for reporting violence, incident response, emergency response, employee training, risk assessment, and hazard prevention.
  • Documentation: Employers must document all workplace violence incidents, including details of the incident, involved employees, injuries, and corrective measures. This documentation must be maintained for at least five years.

• Civil Penalties and Protections
  • Civil Penalty: Employers failing to comply with the policy requirements may face a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation, effective July 1, 2027.
  • Employee Protections: Employees are protected from retaliation for reporting workplace violence or seeking assistance from law enforcement or government agencies.

Source References

• VA HB1919 – Workplace violence policy; required for certain employers, civil penalty
• VA Governor Glenn Youngkin Press Release – Veto

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