Senate committee approves raising minimum wage, paid sick time off bill and more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Virginia Senate committee has advanced several labor proposals.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved a bill to increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $13.75/hour next year and $15.00/hour in 2028. 

In addition, the committee greenlit an idea to create a state-run paid family and medical leave program that would allow Virginians to take paid time off if they have a baby, get sick or need to care for a sick loved one. 

“Paid family and medical leave provides families who could not use FMLA otherwise because they can't afford time to take time off without pay, gives them an option to care for themselves or a loved one,” Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax), who authored the bill, told the committee. 

However, Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle take issue with the fact that to fund the program, employees and their employers would have to pay into it. 

“Unemployment insurance is paid by the employer; this has it as payment by the employee, so it’s a tax on the employee,” McDougle said.

Plus, the committee passed a bill that would require employers to give employees paid sick time off. Employees would accrue one hour of paid sick time off for every 30 hours they work.