A proposal by State Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko would prohibit employers from using applicants’ wage history when determining pay or making hiring decisions, according to the Virginia State Senate.
The measure, designated as SB215 and introduced Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, is described as: “Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees.”
Below is a summary based on the official bill text and may interpret some provisions for clarity.
This legislation would bar employers from inquiring about or using a job applicant’s wage or salary history in employment decisions, except in situations where the applicant offers it voluntarily after receiving an initial employment offer. Employers would have to determine and communicate a wage or salary range in good faith, including pay or pay range in all public and internal postings related to jobs, promotions, transfers or other openings. Retaliation would be prohibited against applicants or employees who choose not to provide pay history or who ask for a pay range. The bill creates a private right of action, allowing affected parties up to two years to file a lawsuit seeking statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, along with attorney fees, costs and additional relief.
The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (Democrat-38th District) and Sen. Scott A. Surovell (Democrat-34th District).
Since the session began, Boysko has put forward 20 other bills.
Boysko earned her BA from Hollins College in 1989.
Boysko, a Democrat, was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 2024 to represent the 38th Senate district, succeeding Travis Hackworth.
In Virginia, the legislative process starts when a bill is submitted in the House of Delegates or the Senate. It is referred to one or more committees for review and amendment. If approved by committee, the bill moves to the floor for debate and voting in each chamber. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow it to become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly holds a regular session each year beginning the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, although only some are enacted as law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer B. Boysko and Scott A. Surovell | SB215 | 01/14/2026 | Prospective employer; prohibited from seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko, Aaron R. Rouse, Adam P. Ebbin, Angelia Williams Graves, Barbara A. Favola, Danica A. Roem, David W. Marsden, Ghazala F. Hashmi, Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Jeremy S. McPike, Kannan Srinivasan, L. Louise Lucas, Lamont Bagby, Lashrecse D. Aird, Mamie E. Locke, Michael J. Jones, R. Creigh Deeds, Russet Perry, Saddam Azlan Salim, Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, Scott A. Surovell, and Stella G. Pekarsky | SB2 | 01/14/2026 | Paid family and medical leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko and David R. Suetterlein | SB212 | 01/14/2026 | Schedule VI controlled substances; TPA-certified optometrists permitted to sell and dispense. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB214 | 01/14/2026 | Civic Education, Commission on; required to develop and include certain enumerated items on website. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB216 | 01/14/2026 | Guardianship; copy of appointment, termination, or modification order. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB217 | 01/14/2026 | National Board Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund; eligibility. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB335 | 01/14/2026 | Mental illness, neurocognitive disorder, etc.; affirmative defense or reduced penalty. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB341 | 01/14/2026 | Private elementary and secondary schools; policies relating to bullying and cyberbullying, etc. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB343 | 01/14/2026 | Herndon, Town of; amending charter, clarifies duties of town council. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko and William M. Stanley, Jr. | SB344 | 01/14/2026 | Mammalian wildlife; premature separation and hybridization prohibited, exceptions. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB348 | 01/14/2026 | Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko, Lashrecse D. Aird, Michael J. Jones, and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB355 | 01/14/2026 | Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB373 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko and Scott A. Surovell | SB379 | 01/14/2026 | Psilocybin; Board of Pharmacy to reschedule upon federal scheduling changes. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB380 | 01/14/2026 | Income tax, corporate and state; subtraction for broadband grant fund awards. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB406 | 01/14/2026 | Va. State Bar, et al.; use of nondisclosure/confidentiality prov. in certain settlement agreements. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB407 | 01/14/2026 | Transportation electrification; integrated resource planning, fast-charging stations, etc. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB409 | 01/14/2026 | Assisted living facilities; electronic monitoring in resident rooms. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB412 | 01/14/2026 | Court appearance of a person not free on bail; changes to provisions regarding hearings. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko, Richard H. Stuart, Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr., Lashrecse D. Aird, and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB416 | 01/14/2026 | Deferred dispos. in criminal case; persons with autism, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | SB449 | 01/14/2026 | Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom(submitting to qualified voters). |
Information in this article was obtained from the Virginia State Senate. The source data is available here.
