VirginiaSB4932026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Consumer protection; automatic renewal or continuous service offers, disclosure and cancellation.

Sponsored By: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Consumer protection; automatic renewal or continuous service offers; disclosure and cancellation. Amends certain definitions related to automatic renewal or continuous service offers, including the definition of "clear and conspicuous" as it relates to seller disclosures and requirements to provide a simple cancellation mechanism. The bill replaces the term "supplier" in current provisions with "seller" and provides a definition for such term. The bill requires sellers to provide a cancellation mechanism that is at least as easy to use as the mechanism used to initiate the automatic renewal or continuous service offer, and includes additional requirements for providing such cancellation mechanism. Under the bill, certain businesses are no longer exempt from disclosure and cancellation requirements for automatic renewal or continuous service offers, and a violation of the provision constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill is identical to HB 1022.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Clear rules and easy subscription cancellation

The law requires sellers to show renewal terms and the total cost clearly before you agree. Sellers must get your clear yes before charging and give you a record you can keep with cancel steps. You get simple ways to cancel: a clear online option if sold online, and a toll‑free phone, email, or mail if they bill you. Cancel must be at least as easy as sign‑up, and you do not have to talk to an agent unless the offer was started only through an agent. Phone cancel must be free, reachable in normal hours, and honored promptly; sellers must also give notice before any important change to the terms.

Free trials need notices and online cancel

If a free trial lasts more than 30 days, the seller must send you a notice within 30 days after it ends about your option to cancel to avoid charges. It is also illegal to skip a clear online way to cancel a recurring purchase.

Unsolicited subscription goods are free

If a seller sends goods under a recurring plan without your clear consent, they are an unconditional gift. You can keep, use, or throw them away. You do not have to pay for or return them.

Who is covered or exempt from rules

Some small businesses count as consumers. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens or legal residents, have 250 or fewer employees or average $10 million or less in receipts over three years, and owners control daily operations. The law defines key terms like automatic renewal (a paid plan that renews for more than a month), continuous service (keeps going until you cancel), and “clear and conspicuous” disclosures, and it defines who counts as a seller. Some providers are exempt, including banks and credit unions, insurers and Title 38.2 entities, some utilities and SCC/FCC/FERC‑regulated services, alarm companies, registered health clubs, and regulated home or extended service contract providers.

Enforcement and medical debt link in 2026

Violations of these rules are enforced under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. A seller that tries in good faith to follow the rules is not liable for civil penalties or damages for those good‑faith efforts. Starting July 1, 2026, breaking the Medical Debt Protection Act also counts as a violation here.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stella G. Pekarsky

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 379 • No: 40

House vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 40

House vote 2/24/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/19/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/4/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/3/2026

Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/3/2026

Senator Pekarsky Amendments #4-7 agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/3/2026

General Laws and Technology Amendment rejected

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/30/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/30/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0 • Other: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0932)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 932 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB493)

    4/3/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB493ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026House
  11. Conference Report released

    3/13/2026
  12. Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  13. Substitute bill reprinted 26109455D

    3/13/2026Senate
  14. Conference Report released

    3/13/2026
  15. House Conferees: Reaser, Feggans, McLaughlin

    3/5/2026House
  16. Conferees appointed by House

    3/5/2026House
  17. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  18. Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Williams Graves, Jordan

    3/3/2026Senate
  19. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/3/2026Senate
  20. House requested conference committee

    2/27/2026House
  21. House insisted on substitute

    2/27/2026House
  22. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  23. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/24/2026House
  24. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/24/2026House
  25. committee substitute agreed to

    2/24/2026House

Bill Text

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