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.
More detail
The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 11Governor's recommendation received by HouseLatest
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB281ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 12Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Read third timeMinor
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Mar 11Engrossed by Senate as amended
- Mar 11General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed toMajor
- Mar 10Passed by for the day
- Mar 10Read third timeMinor
- Mar 9Passed by for the day
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 6Rules suspended
- Mar 4Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Senate committee offered
- Feb 25Assigned GL&T sub: HousingMinor
- Feb 10Referred to Committee on General Laws and TechnologyMinor
- Feb 10Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 9Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 8Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281)
- Feb 6Engrossed by House as amended
- Feb 6committee amendment agreed toMajor
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 5Read first timeMinor
- Feb 3Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3House committee offered
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 23Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281)
- Jan 23Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer ProtectionMinor
- Jan 9Referred to Committee on General LawsMinor
- Jan 9Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101499DIntroduced