# Virginia HB79: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; duties of landlord, mold remediation, civil penalty.

Virginia HB79, Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; duties of landlord, mold remediation, civil penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-12 (Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB79-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB79
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; duties of landlord, mold remediation, civil penalty.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-31
- Last action: 2026-02-12, Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Housing/Consumer Protection
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; duties of landlord; mold remediation; civil penalty. Provides that a tenant, authorized occupant, or guest or invitee of a tenant or authorized occupant may bring a personal injury or wrongful death action for exposure to mold arising from the condition within the interior of a dwelling unit or for any property damage claims arising out of the landlord-tenant relationship to recover (i) compensatory damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and injury to personal property; (ii) punitive damages; and (iii) reasonable attorney fees and costs, if the mold is caused solely by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the landlord or managing agent. The bill also mandates a landlord to require a tenant to temporarily vacate the dwelling unit in order for the landlord to perform mold remediation in accordance with professional standards if it has been determined by a physician or other qualified medical professional and certified by a written medical statement that the mold condition in the dwelling unit materially affects the health or safety of the tenant or any authorized occupant.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Continued to 2027 in General Laws (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-02-12: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Continued to 2027 in General Laws (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB79) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection (House)
- 2025-12-31: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2025-12-31: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103115D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101173.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101172.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-12-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082292.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082291.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
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101173.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101172.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082292.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082291.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB79-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).