# Virginia SB165: Contracts; retainage bonds permitted in construction contracts, effective clause.

Virginia SB165, Contracts; retainage bonds permitted in construction contracts, effective clause., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0485)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB165-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB165
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Contracts; retainage bonds permitted in construction contracts, effective clause.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0485)
- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (220 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Contracts; retainage bonds permitted in construction contracts. Allows, in any construction contract between an owner and a general contractor or between a general contractor and a subcontractor, such contractor or subcontractor to tender a retainage bond, defined in the bill, as a substitute for retainage withheld as security in such contracts. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Retainage bond rules need 2027 reenactment: cost, low. These retainage-bond changes do not take effect unless the General Assembly reenacts them in its 2027 session. Until then, current retainage practices stay the same. Plan for no change unless lawmakers act in 2027.
- Retainage bonds speed pay to contractors: mixed, medium. The law lets contractors use a retainage bond instead of having money withheld. The bond must name the owner, match the retainage amount, and come from a surety licensed in Virginia. If the contractor is not in default, the owner must pay withheld retainage within five business days, or stop withho…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Reported from General Laws | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0485) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter485 (Effective -see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB165ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-03: Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-26: Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-02-06: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Introduced bill reprinted 26101912D (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101912D (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218207.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218206.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194859.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194858.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105606.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105605.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102046.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083617.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083616.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/1218207.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218206.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194859.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194858.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105606.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105605.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102046.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083617.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083616.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB165-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).