As Thousands of Virginians Lose Their Jobs, Governor Youngkin Urgently Must Sign A Pay Transparency Bill

(Washington, D.C. Feb. 20, 2025) This week, the Virginia legislature passed a pay equity bill, Senate Bill 1132, that would require employers to list salary ranges on job postings and ban employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. If Governor Glenn Youngkin signs this bill, Virginia will join 17 states and D.C. that have passed similar legislation.

The following is a statement by Vasu Reddy, Director of State Policy for Workplace Justice at the National Women’s Law Center:

“At a moment when thousands of federal workers in Virginia have suddenly lost their jobs, it’s imperative that Governor Youngkin quickly sign the pay range transparency and salary history bill that passed this week. A year ago, when an identical bill passed, he vetoed it—rejecting a rare opportunity to deliver a solid win to workers. Now is the time to set things right.

If signed, the bill would require employers to list pay ranges on each job posting and stop relying on job applicants’ prior salary to set pay. This bill will level the playing field for all workers searching for jobs—especially for women and people of color who are routinely shortchanged when employers set pay in the dark and are forced to carry prior pay discrimination from one job to the next. Businesses in Virginia, and across the country, support pay transparency because it helps them attract applicants, retain talent, and save time and costs in hiring. It’s why a pay transparency movement is gaining traction across the United States. Now, Youngkin’s constituents are counting on his support to swiftly sign this bill and join neighboring Maryland and the District of Columbia in fighting for workers.”