# Virginia HB593: Summons for unlawful detainer; legal resources, plain-language overview of process. Virginia HB593, Summons for unlawful detainer; legal resources, plain-language overview of process., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0635)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB593-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB593 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Summons for unlawful detainer; legal resources, plain-language overview of process. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0635) - Sponsor: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 9 (286 yes, 36 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary Summons for unlawful detainer; additional information; legal resources; plain-language overview of process. Provides that any summons for an unlawful detainer issued may, with the approval of the chief judge of the general district court or the chief judge of the circuit court, have attached additional information prepared by the Commonwealth, the locality in which the unlawful detainer hearing is to be held, or a nonprofit organization serving the jurisdiction in which such hearing is to be held regarding (i) legal resources available to the plaintiff and defendant, (ii) a plain-language overview of the unlawful detainer process, and (iii) the Eviction Diversion Program eligibility and applicability. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Proper termination notice needed to evict: benefit, high. A court cannot give an order of possession unless the landlord shows a proper termination notice and the court enters it into evidence. The law explains what counts as a termination notice, including notices under § 55.1-1245 and other written notices ending a tenancy for homes or nonresidential sp… - Easier to get an eviction summons: benefit, medium. A landlord, agent, or attorney can give a sworn affidavit to a magistrate or clerk to get an eviction summons. The affidavit must describe the facts and the property. The summons can be served under §§ 8.01-293, 8.01-296, or 8.01-299, and a summons issued by a magistrate may be returned to and hear… - Rights and help info on summons: benefit, low. Every summons tells tenants that an employer cannot fire or punish them for missing work to attend a hearing if the tenant gave reasonable notice of the hearing. With the chief judge’s approval, the summons may also include legal help, a plain-language guide to the process, and Eviction Diversion P… - After foreclosure, former owner owes rent: cost, high. If a single-family home is sold at foreclosure and the former owner stays, they are a tenant at sufferance. The new owner can end the tenancy with a written notice at least three days before the end date, then file for eviction. The former owner must pay fair market rent from the foreclosure date u… - Faster eviction hearings and 10-day notice: mixed, high. For cases under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, the first hearing occurs as soon as practicable and no later than 21 days after filing. If the court cannot meet 21 days, it must hold the hearing by 30 days after filing. The plaintiff can ask for a later date that works for both th… - Proof and money claims in eviction court: mixed, high. A landlord may use copies or printouts of leases and other papers if they provide an affidavit that they are true copies. If the tenant does not appear, the landlord may use sworn statements to show rent, late fees, attorney fees, costs, and other charges, and must report any payments that reduce t… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-12 | House | Senate amendments agreed to by House | pass | 83 | 15 | | | 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments | pass | 24 | 16 | | | 2026-03-11 | Senate | Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2026-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 10 | 0 | | ## Actions (33) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0635) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 635 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB593) (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 (HB593ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate amendments agreed to by House (83-Y 15-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with amendments (24-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB593) (House) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-02-16: committee amendments agreed to (House) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-13: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-11: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-09: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB593) (House) - 2026-01-29: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103900D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221656.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221655.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213561.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213560.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1206012.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202012.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199319.HTML) - Engrossed, 2026-02-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143955.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143954.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142342.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135216.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085096.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085095.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/1221656.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221655.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213561.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213560.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1206012.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202012.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199319.HTML) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143955.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143954.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142342.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135216.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085096.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085095.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-HB593-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).