VirginiaVa. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent.
What it does
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent. Removes the provision requiring that a tenant in possession of a dwelling unit, prior to asserting a defense against an action for rent or possession, pay into court the amount of rent found by the court to be due and unpaid and for such amount to be held by the court pending the issuance of an order. The bill also limits the discretion of the court in actions for possession based upon nonpayment of rent and actions for rent by a landlord when the tenant is in possession of a dwelling unit.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 959 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 10Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Minor
- Mar 2Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 2Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 2Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)
- Mar 2Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB373ER)Major
- Mar 2EnrolledMinor
- Feb 26House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Passed House with substitute (63-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 24committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 24Read third timeMinor
- Feb 23Read second timeMinor
- Feb 20Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)
- Feb 19Committee substitute printed 26108192D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Reported from General Laws with substitute (15-Y 6-N)Minor
- Feb 19House committee offered
- Feb 13Referred to Committee on General LawsMinor
- Feb 13Read first timeMinor
- Feb 13Placed on Calendar
- Feb 10Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Feb 9Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
- Feb 9Senator Boysko Amendment agreed toMajor
- Feb 9Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
- Feb 9Floor offered Senator Boysko Amendment
- Feb 9Read second timeMinor
- Feb 6Passed by for the day
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Feb 6Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 6Rules suspended
- Feb 4Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws and Technology. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)
- Jan 21Assigned GL&T sub: HousingMinor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on General Laws and TechnologyMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100767DIntroduced