Lawmakers in Virginia are set to vote on a bill extending minimum wage requirements to farm workers, an effort that has been vetoed twice since 2024.
RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers will vote on a House bill to extend minimum wage requirements to farm workers in the state, an effort that has been vetoed twice since 2024.
Del. Adele McClure, D-Arlington, introduced House Bill 20 to extend the minimum wage to the currently exempt farm workers, employees and certain temporary foreign workers.
This marks McClure’s third year carrying the legislation, which advanced on party lines twice before being vetoed by former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Opponents of the measure had a misconception around the impact it would have on farms and farmers, McClure said. She added that tariffs could have a higher cost.
“This bill is supposed to target the bad actors that are paying some of the lowest wages to some of the hardest workers who can’t even afford to put the food that they harvest on their own table,” McClure said. “This would ensure that they could afford to work and support their families and themselves.”
Many farmers pay their workers well above the state minimum wage, according to McClure. Her bill targets large farms that pay their workers less.
“I’ve spoken with a vast amount of farmers, large and small, and a lot of small farmers support this bill because they wouldn’t dream of paying anything below $15 an hour,” McClure said. “They need those workers. They depend on those workers, and they can’t afford not to have that work.”
An employer found in violation of the proposed measure would be subject to a fine ranging between $10 and $200, according to the bill’s impact statement.
Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-Prince William, introduced Senate Bill 121, the counterpart bill.