HB547Introduced in the House of Delegates
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.
Introduced by Dan Helmer, District 10
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 731.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1058)
April 22, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026
21
Yes
18
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | Absent |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100320D
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/19/2026 4:22 pm)
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 7-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108415D-S1
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Local Government Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
Governor's recommendation adopted
Reenrolled
Reenrolled bill text (HB547ER2)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Approved by Governor - Chapter 1058 (effective - see bill)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1058)
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