# Virginia SB227: Arbitration; high-volume service providers, selection of arbitrator, civil remedies. Virginia SB227, Arbitration; high-volume service providers, selection of arbitrator, civil remedies., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Scott A. Surovell (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0490)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB227-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB227 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Arbitration; high-volume service providers, selection of arbitrator, civil remedies. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-10 - Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0490) - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 11 (359 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary Arbitration; high-volume arbitration service providers; selection of arbitrator; civil remedies. Requires a high-volume arbitration service provider, defined in the bill as a person or entity that administers, facilitates, or provides arbitration services in the Commonwealth and that conducts more than 100 arbitrations per year that arise from a pre-dispute arbitration agreement involving a Virginia-connected transaction, to establish and maintain certain procedures related to the selection of an arbitrator. Under the bill, a party aggrieved by a high-volume arbitration service provider that has failed to comply with such requirements may seek injunctive relief or other appropriate civil remedy or make an application with a circuit court to vacate an arbitration award in accordance with current law. The bill also requires all high-volume arbitration service providers to report information related to certain arbitrations annually with the State Corporation Commission and permits the Commission to impose a $10,000 civil penalty per violation on high-volume arbitration service providers who fail to comply with the provisions of the bill. Finally, the bill provides that these provisions shall apply to arbitration agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2026. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Court relief backs fair arbitration rules: benefit, low. For agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2026, the law’s protections become key contract terms under Virginia contract law. Parties facing unlawful arbitrator selection can seek a court order or other civil relief where arbitration occurs or in Richmond Circuit Court. After a hearing and awa… - Fairer arbitration for consumers and workers: benefit, low. The law covers agreements signed before a dispute arises, entered into on or after July 1, 2026. Its provider rules cover services handling more than 100 Virginia-connected arbitrations per calendar year under these agreements. Providers cannot force a particular arbitrator on either side; both sid… - Fee protections for consumers and workers: benefit, low. For covered agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2026, providers must immediately send a complete invoice after filing requirements are met. Everyone receives it on the same day, by the same method, showing the amount, due date, and estimated future charges. Unless the agreement sets a payme… - More time to protect arbitration claims: benefit, low. For covered agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2026, the law pauses deadlines for Virginia-connected claims. The legal time limit pauses when a written arbitration demand is sent to the arbitrator. It stays paused until 90 days after arbitration ends. Additional protection covers related c… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | House amendments agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with amendments Block Vote | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with amendments Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2026-02-18 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 10 | 0 | | | 2026-01-27 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-01-26 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-26 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-01-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-01-21 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 14 | 1 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0490) (Governor) - 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 490 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB227) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB227ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-06: House amendments agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with amendments Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with amendments Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2026-03-04: committee amendments agreed to (House) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-03: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-18: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-17: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House) - 2026-02-03: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House) - 2026-02-03: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-03: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB227) (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Committee substitute printed 26105387D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Courts of Justice Substitute (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (14-Y 1-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-10: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-01-10: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100636D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218055.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218054.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202637.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202636.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197428.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189021.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095058.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095057.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093001.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093000.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084138.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084137.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/1218055.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218054.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202637.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202636.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197428.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189021.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095058.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095057.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093001.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093000.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084138.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084137.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-SB227-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).