Virginia Democrats pass paid leave program potentially open to illegal immigrants

Virginia will guarantee nearly its entire workforce “the right” to paid family and medical leave, pending Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D-VA) signature on new legislation that would establish a costly worker assistance program open to almost all state residents — including, potentially, illegal immigrants.

With complete Democratic control of the state government, the Virginia legislature voted on March 13 to send the program, introduced as S.B.2 and H.B. 1207, to Spanberger’s desk. But the state agency that will be tasked with implementing the paid leave program told the Washington Examiner that it can’t determine whether illegal immigrants will reap the benefits of it until after Spanberger signs the law.

The companion measures passed over the objections of Republican lawmakers seeking carve-outs for small businesses that would be forced to honor weeks of paid time off for a broad range of legally acceptable reasons defined by the law.

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