An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-2817.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to state officers and employees; state agencies to establish alternative work schedules; reporting requirement.
HB554 amends Virginia law governing state agency telecommuting and alternative work schedules. The bill requires the head of each state agency to maintain a telecommuting and alternative work policy for eligible employees, with eligibility determined by operational need and duties rather than job title. The policy must identify eligible and ineligible positions, describe benefits of telecommuting and alternative schedules, promote use of Commonwealth IT assets where feasible, and allow use of non-Commonwealth equipment when technically and economically practical and compliant with security standards.
The bill also continues and clarifies agency planning and reporting requirements. Each agency head must set annual percentage targets for positions eligible for alternative work schedules and report annually to the Secretary of Administration on participation, efficiency, approval and denial rates, and budget needs for technology and connectivity that support remote work. The Department of Human Resource Management must review the statewide policy every two years and publish updated versions online with review and effective dates. The bill defines key terms such as alternate work locations, alternative work schedule, central workplace, and telecommuting.
HB554 updates § 2.2-2817.1 of the Code of Virginia to strengthen the framework for telecommuting and alternative work arrangements across state government. It affects state agencies and their employees by formalizing policy requirements, encouraging broader use of remote and flexible work options where performance and service delivery are not diminished, and requiring ongoing reporting and policy review. The bill also reinforces information security and technology standards for remote work equipment and may influence agency budgeting for broadband, software, and collaboration tools.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to have been treated as a routine administrative modernization of state workforce policy rather than a highly controversial proposal. The absence of recorded committee debate or vote detail suggests limited public contention in the available record. Overall, the bill’s structure and focus on efficiency, flexibility, and reporting indicate generally favorable or neutral legislative sentiment toward expanding and standardizing telework practices in state government.
The main potential points of contention are likely to have centered on agency discretion, operational feasibility, and information security. Agencies may differ on which positions can realistically telecommute or use alternative schedules, and the bill preserves that judgment based on duties and operational need. Another possible concern is the cost and administrative burden of meeting reporting requirements and providing the technology, connectivity, and equipment needed to support remote work. No specific opposing viewpoints or recorded disputes are included in the provided context.