All Roll Calls
Yes: 379 • No: 40
Sponsored By: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)
Became Law
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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5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stella G. Pekarsky
Democratic • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
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
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0932)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 932 (effective 7/1/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB493)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB493ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A)
Conference Report released
Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Substitute bill reprinted 26109455D
Conference Report released
House Conferees: Reaser, Feggans, McLaughlin
Conferees appointed by House
Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Williams Graves, Jordan
Conferees appointed by Senate
House requested conference committee
House insisted on substitute
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
committee substitute agreed to
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
3/30/2026
Conference Report
3/13/2026
Substitute
3/13/2026
Substitute
2/19/2026
Amendment
2/3/2026
Engrossed
2/3/2026
Amendment
1/29/2026
Amendment
1/28/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
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