As we reported last month, Virginia lawmakers passed Senate Bill 170 imposing additional restrictions on employee noncompetes in the Commonwealth. On April 13, 2026, Governor Abigail D. Spanberger signed Senate Bill 170 (“the Act”) into law. The Act will take effect July 1, 2026 and will prohibit enforcement of a noncompete if the employer discharges the employee without cause and does not provide the employee with severance benefits or other monetary payment. The Act applies to agreements entered into, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2026.
Recent Updates
- No Free Pass in Mass: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Says Irreparable Harm Must Be Proven, Not Presumed, in Trade Secret Cases
- New York Federal Court Enforces Non-Compete Against Employee Terminated for Cause
- Louisiana, Maryland, and Iowa Pass Laws Restricting Noncompetes Specific to Certain Professions
- Delaware Refuses to Blue Pencil Overbroad Restrictive Covenants Following Business Acquisition
- Virginia Senate Bill 128 Adds Health Care Professionals to Virginia’s Noncompete Restrictions