U.S. States Enact 2026 Job Rules as Virginia Expands Leave and Pay Disclosure
Updated
Updated · Ogletree Deakins · Jun 22
U.S. States Enact 2026 Job Rules as Virginia Expands Leave and Pay Disclosure
1 articles · Updated · Ogletree Deakins · Jun 22
Summary
July 1 marks the main effective date for a wave of 2026 state employment laws covering leave, discrimination, child labor, noncompetes and pay transparency, with some states setting later start dates.
Virginia carries some of the broadest changes: paid sick leave at 1 hour per 30 worked, up to 12 weeks of paid family leave at 80% of wages, mandatory pay ranges in postings and a statewide salary-history ban.
Tennessee will void noncompetes for workers earning under $70,000, while Maine will require pay ranges in job postings from July 29 and raise its maximum weekly paid-leave benefit to $1,249.12 on July 1.
Other states target narrower issues: Connecticut sets warehouse quota rules for sites with 250 or more workers, Nebraska requires 90 days' notice for mass layoffs at employers with 100 or more workers, and Washington bars coerced employee microchip implants.
The changes show states continuing to set workplace standards beyond federal law, especially on leave benefits, hiring transparency, worker classification and limits on restrictive covenants.