Bill > SB917

This bill establishes comprehensive collective bargaining rights for public employees in Virginia, creating a detailed legal framework for public sector labor relations. The legislation creates the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), which will oversee collective bargaining for state and local government employees, including those in schools, transportation, and various state agencies. Public employees will have the right to organize, form unions, negotiate collectively, and engage in concerted activities, with specific provisions for different types of employees such as state workers, school employees, firefighters, and individual providers of direct support services. The bill defines appropriate bargaining units for different types of employees, establishes procedures for union certification and decertification, and outlines negotiation and impasse resolution processes, including mediation and binding arbitration. Importantly, the bill prohibits strikes by public employees and prevents employers from locking out workers. The legislation provides detailed protections for both employers and employees, specifying what can and cannot be bargained, and sets up a framework for good-faith negotiations. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, giving time for implementation and preparation, and it does not disrupt existing labor agreements or certifications in place before that date.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB917