# Virginia HB1178: Authorized septic system inspectors; scope of services and requirements for performance, etc.

Virginia HB1178, Authorized septic system inspectors; scope of services and requirements for performance, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Kimberly Pope Adams (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0267)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1178-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1178
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Authorized septic system inspectors; scope of services and requirements for performance, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0267)
- Sponsor: Kimberly Pope Adams (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (317 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Authorized septic system inspectors; scope of services and requirements. Provides that system components are not considered readily accessible if access requires removal of surface material exceeding 30 inches in depth to uncover septic tank access lids, distribution devices, or other inspection ports. The bill specifies that an authorized septic system inspector shall submit a written report to the client within 10 business days from the start of the inspection, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties, which shall also indicate whether the system is operating as intended. The bill removes the requirement that authorized septic system inspectors report the advertised bedroom count or design capacity as listed in the multiple listing service or written statement by the property owner. This bill is identical to SB 401.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New safeguards and limits for septic inspections: mixed, low. Virginia requires licensed inspectors for septic inspections tied to property sales, refinancing, or title transfers. Inspectors must hold a valid onsite sewage system operator, installer, or soil evaluator license. Before starting, they must provide a signed contract covering the work, costs, and…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kimberly Pope Adams (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Reported from General Laws with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0267) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 267 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-25: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-25: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1178) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1178ER) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-14: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-13: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1178) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Committee substitute printed 26107308D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-10: Reported from General Laws with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1178) (House)
- 2026-02-01: Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105226D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217175.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217174.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209007.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209006.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139051.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139050.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131475.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131812.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131474.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131811.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087654.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087653.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217175.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217174.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209007.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209006.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139051.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139050.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131475.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131812.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131474.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131811.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087654.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087653.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1178-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).