5 Key Employment Law Bills to Watch in 2026

February 27, 2026

Currently, the GovDocs Employment Law and Compliance team is monitoring over 3,800 pending employment law bills working their way through the country’s state legislatures. Scroll down for the latest insights or listen to our 2 minute overview to learn which employment law bills could affect your organization.

The three states leading the charge with the number of pending bills so far this year are:

New Jersey with 170 bills introduced so far in 2026

Hawaii with 66 bills

West Virginia with 61 bills

Listen to our 2 minute discussion for an overview:

Here are 5 employment law bills, either pending or passed, of which employers should take note:

1. Maine – Pay Transparency

Status: Pending, has passed the House

Maine’s state legislature is considering a pay transparency bill (LD 54) titled “An Act to Require Employers to Disclose Pay Ranges and Maintain Records of Employees’ Pay Histories,” which has passed the House and Senate Committee. If passed, employers with 10 or more employees must provide a pay range in job postings and pay disclosures to current employees.

2. Mississippi – Artificial Intelligence

Status: Pending, has passed the Senate

In Mississippi, Senate Bill 2437 has passed the Senate and referred to the technology committee in the House. SB 2437 sets out to define “artificial intelligence” under Mississippi law, which has potential to impact employers’ hiring practices within the state.

3. Pennsylvania – Minimum Wage

Status: Pending, has passed the House

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has revived their efforts in passing a new minimum wage law. If passed, House Bill 1549 would increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour, which is currently set at the federal rate of $7.25, and increase by an annual cost-of-living adjustment. HB 1549 passed the House and was referred to the Labor & Industry Committee in the Senate.

4. South Dakota – E-Verify & Immigration

Status: Pending, has passed the House

South Dakota has a bill pending (HB 1209), which would require employers to verify the employment eligibility of new hires through the federal e-verify program. The bill also provides that the attorney general may investigate alleged violations and recover a $2,500 civil penalty for each violation. HB 1209 passed the House on Feb 12, 2026, and had its first reading in the Senate on Feb. 17, 2026.

5. Virginia – Paid Sick Leave

Status: Pending, has passed the House

In Virginia, the state legislature is reviewing a bill on paid sick leave. House Bill 5 looks to expand their paid sick leave to cover not just home health workers, but all employees of private and public employers in the state. Eligible employees would accrue 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. HB 5 has gained significant steam in recent weeks, passing the House and referred to the Senate’s Commerce and Labor Committee.