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HB627Introduced in the House of Delegates

Covenants not to compete; includes health care professionals, civil penalty.

Passed

Introduced by Charniele Herring, District 4

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Covenants not to compete; health care professionals; civil penalty. Adds health care professionals as a category of employee with or upon whom no employer shall enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce a covenant not to compete. The bill defines "health care professional" as any person licensed, registered, or certified by the Board of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, or Social Work. The bill provides that any employer that violates the prohibition against covenants not to compete with a health care professional is subject to the civil penalty in current law of $10,000 for each violation. This bill is identical to SB 128.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1113)

May 14, 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 (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

39

Yes

0

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

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2Yes
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104135D

  2. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  3. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2

  4. House subcommittee offered

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)

  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  7. Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N)

  8. Read first time

  9. Read second time

  10. committee amendments agreed to

  11. Engrossed by House as amended

  12. Read third time and passed House (93-Y 5-N 0-A)

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  14. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  16. Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  17. Committee substitute printed 26108396D-S1

  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  19. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

  20. Rules suspended

  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

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

  24. Read third time

  25. Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

  26. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  27. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)

  29. Enrolled

  30. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB627ER)

  31. Signed by President

  32. Signed by Speaker

  33. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

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

  35. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)

  36. Governor's recommendation received by House

  37. Governor's amendment no. 1 agreed to (96-Y 3-N 0-A)

  38. Governor's amendment no. 2 passed by

  39. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  40. Governor's recommendation adopted

  41. Reenrolled

  42. Reenrolled bill text (HB627ER2)

  43. Signed by Speaker

  44. Signed by President

  45. Communicated to Governor

  46. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  47. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1113 (effective 7/1/2026)

  48. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1113)

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