All Roll Calls
Yes: 147 • No: 63
Sponsored By: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic)
Became Law
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies; noncompliance with rental agreement; mandatory waiting period. Increases the mandatory waiting period for a landlord to pursue remedies for termination of the rental agreement from five days to 14 days. The waiting period begins after a landlord serves written notice on a tenant notifying the tenant of his nonpayment of rent and of the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid. This bill is identical to HB 15.
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6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Your lease does not end just because you were a victim of family abuse in your home. The abuser must be barred by the landlord or a protective order, and you must give written proof within 21 days. If the abuser returns, tell the landlord within 24 hours. If you could not, you must tell them within seven days.
If your rent is unpaid, the landlord must give written notice. You have 14 days to pay before the landlord can end the lease. If a rent check bounced or an electronic transfer failed, you also have 14 days to pay by cash, cashier’s check, certified check, or a completed electronic transfer. The notice must say the lease will end if you do not pay in 14 days. In some cases, the landlord may seek costs or attorney’s fees.
Landlords must give a written notice that says what you did wrong. If it can be fixed, you have 21 days to fix it. If you do not fix it, the lease can end on a date at least 30 days after you got the notice. If you fixed a past breach but later intentionally do the same kind again, the landlord can end the lease with at least 30 days’ notice.
For tenant breaches, landlords can recover unpaid rent, contract charges and fees, late charges, attorney’s fees, court costs if they file, and damages to the unit. If the landlord wins in court, the judge must enter a money judgment for amounts due as of the court date. Attorney’s fees are limited if the tenant proves their failure to pay or to vacate was reasonable.
Landlords can end a lease right away and seek the unit if a nonremediable criminal or willful act threatens health or safety, including illegal drug activity. No criminal conviction is required; the landlord must prove the case by a preponderance of the evidence. If a guest or permitted occupant did the drug activity, the law presumes the tenant knew unless the tenant proves otherwise. The first hearing must be within 15 days of service, and any later hearing or trial within 30 days. Courts can issue temporary orders, and missing these deadlines does not dismiss the case.
When a public housing authority sends a rent nonpayment notice, it must also give you written information on pink or orange paper. The notice must explain how to recertify income, report income changes, ask for a minimum rent hardship exemption, and file a grievance. The authority must post this information in common areas.
Aaron R. Rouse
Democratic • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 147 • No: 63
House vote • 2/24/2026
Passed House
Yes: 64 • No: 34
House vote • 2/19/2026
Reported from General Laws
Yes: 15 • No: 6
Senate vote • 2/3/2026
Read third time and passed Senate
Yes: 21 • No: 18
Senate vote • 2/2/2026
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/30/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/30/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)
Yes: 38 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/28/2026
Reported from General Laws and Technology
Yes: 9 • No: 5
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0354)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 354 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB48)
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB48ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
Read third time
Read second time
Reported from General Laws (15-Y 6-N)
Read first time
Referred to Committee on General Laws
Placed on Calendar
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 5-N)
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB48)
Chaptered
4/8/2026
Enrolled
2/26/2026
Introduced
11/24/2025
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