In March 2021, then-Gov. Ralph Northam backed by a full Democratic majority in the General Assembly (Virginia’s legislative body), signed the Virginia Overtime Wage Act, greatly expanding the state’s overtime requirements effective July 1, 2021. Prior to the act, Virginia adopted the overtime requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
During the November 2021 elections, however, Republicans regained a 52-48 majority in the Virginia House of Delegates and a Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, was elected. Now, although the Senate remains under control of the Democrats by a three-member margin, Republican lawmakers in both houses are seeking to undo the Virginia Overtime Wage Act via concurrent bills, HB 1173 and SB 631.
