# Virginia HB281: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent

Virginia HB281, Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Katrina Callsen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB281-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB281
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-09
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 11 (303 yes, 157 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

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. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Renters get defenses with court-cost risks: mixed, low. Virginia renters can use unsafe housing as a defense against eviction for unpaid rent or rent claims while still occupying the home. Qualifying problems include fire hazards, serious health or safety threats, or major landlord violations of the lease or law. Examples include missing heat, running w…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Katrina Callsen (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 64 | 36 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Senate amendment agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 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 with amendment | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 64 | 34 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (45)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1041) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB281ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1041 (effective - 7/01/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB281ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day (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 with amendment (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Assigned GL&T sub: Housing (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-08: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-06: committee amendment agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-03: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection (House)
- 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101499D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225193.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225192.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219811.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219810.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219408.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219407.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219404.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213412.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213411.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205995.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196397.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191097.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116278.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116277.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114807.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115364.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083394.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083393.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/1225193.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225192.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219811.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219810.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219408.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219407.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219404.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213412.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213411.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205995.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196397.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191097.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116278.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116277.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114807.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115364.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083394.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083393.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-HB281-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).