Notice of Intended Regulatory Action:

Proposed amendments to the Migrant Labor Camp Regulations (12VAC5-501)

	The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has convened an industry stakeholder workgroup to help develop proposed amendments to the Rules and Regulations Governing the Construction and Maintenance of Migrant Labor Camps (Regulations). A migrant labor camp is a residential structure operated or used as living quarters for migrant workers engaged in agricultural or fishing activities.
	The migrant labor camp stakeholder workgroup includes migrant labor camp owners and operators, VDH central office staff and subject matter experts, local health departments, other state agencies involved in migrant labor camp oversight, and various organizations and associations that represent the agricultural industry, migrant labor camp owners, and migrant workers.
	A Notice of Intended Regulatory Action was published in The Virginia Register of Regulations in December 2024. The workgroup started working on proposed amendments in early 2025. The work is still underway.
	The Regulations have not undergone a comprehensive review in over twenty years. Both the public and agency staff identified areas where the regulation would benefit from revision or clarification to ensure the regulation achieves its intended purpose: to protect the health of migrant workers during their employment and residence in the Commonwealth.
	The proposed amendments will update the regulations and will likely remove outdated information; add and amend text to reflect best practices and the latest science from industry, academia, public health experts, and other stakeholders; clarify regulatory and enforcement standards; and include any additional amendments deemed necessary in response to public comment or input from industry and subject matter experts.
	The proposed amendments will apply to migrant labor camps in Virginia. The workgroup effort is facilitated online with periodic meetings that are held virtually and in-person in various locations across the state. When the proposed regulations are ready for publication, they will be posted on Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (townhall.virginia.gov) and available for public comment.

Scan or CLICK here to join the workgroup, or to learn more about the process.

To learn more about the VDH migrant labor camp program visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/environmental-health-services/migrant-labor-camps/.

For assistance in securing a workforce to fill your labor needs, visit the VA WORKS Agriculture and Foreign Labor Certification program at https://virginiaworks.gov/im-an-employer/agriculture-and-foreign-labor-certification/.