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HB494Introduced in the House of Delegates

Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government, certain former federal employees.

Passed

Introduced by Elizabeth Guzman, District 31

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Virginia Personnel Act; hiring preference in state government; certain former federal employees. Allows for an applicant's status as a former federal employee to be given consideration when applying for employment with the Commonwealth if such applicant was terminated from a position of employment with the federal government on or after January 1, 2025, due to a reduction in the federal budget or initiatives put in place by the federal Department of Government Efficiency, provided that such person meets all of the knowledge, skill, and ability requirements for the available position. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management, on or before January 1 of each year, to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly that includes the number of job applications submitted by candidates who self-identified as former federal employees, as well as the number of jobs offered to such candidates. The bill has an expiration date of January 21, 2029.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0154)

April 6, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A) · March 4, 2026

63

Yes

33

No

3

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102456D

  2. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  3. Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 2-N)

  7. Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)

  8. Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  9. Committee substitute printed 26105902D-H1

  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  11. House subcommittee offered

  12. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)

  13. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  14. Committee substitute printed 26107309D-H2

  15. Read first time

  16. Floor offered Delegate Guzman Amendments

  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  18. Read second time

  19. committee substitute rejected

  20. committee substitute agreed to

  21. Delegate Guzman Floor amendments agreed to

  22. Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended

  23. Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

  24. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  25. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  26. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  27. Senate committee offered

  28. Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

  29. Rules suspended

  30. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  31. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  32. Read third time

  33. General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  34. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  35. Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  36. Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)

  37. Enrolled

  38. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB494ER)

  39. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB494)

  40. Signed by President

  41. Signed by Speaker

  42. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  43. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  44. Approved by Governor-Chapter 154 (effective 7/1/2026)

  45. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0154)

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