# Virginia SB493: Consumer protection; automatic renewal or continuous service offers, disclosure and cancellation. Virginia SB493, Consumer protection; automatic renewal or continuous service offers, disclosure and cancellation., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0932)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB493-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB493 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Consumer protection; automatic renewal or continuous service offers, disclosure and cancellation. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0932) - Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 13 (379 yes, 40 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## 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. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Broader coverage and stronger renewal enforcement: benefit, medium. The renewal rules cover paid subscriptions or purchase agreements that automatically renew for a new term longer than one month. They also cover ongoing services that continue until canceled, including sellers that offer, market, sell, or charge for them. Alarm companies covered by the former exemp… - Advance warnings before subscription charges change: benefit, low. Before changing important terms you accepted, sellers must provide a clear notice you can keep, explaining changes and cancellation steps. For free trials longer than 30 days, sellers must notify you about canceling before the trial ends and payment begins. That notice must come within the 30 days… - Clear subscription terms before you pay: benefit, low. Sellers must clearly show renewal or ongoing-service terms near the consent request before you become obligated. They must get your clear consent before charging your card or a third-party account. Renewal disclosures must explain ongoing charges, known charge changes, renewal length, minimum purch… - Easier cancellation and fewer unwanted obligations: benefit, low. Sellers must offer timely, affordable cancellation that is easy to find and at least as easy as signing up. Cancellation must be available through each signup method, with special rules for in-person offers. In-person offers and print-publication offers started in person, by pamphlet, or by mail mu… - Shoppers get total prices before buying: benefit, low. Before you agree to buy a good or ongoing service, the seller must disclose the total cost. That price must include all required fees and charges. - Small businesses gain subscription protections: benefit, low. Small businesses receive renewal and ongoing-service protections when seeking or buying goods, services, money, or credit for business purposes. Violations involving these offers are prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 95 | 0 | | | 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 | | | 2026-02-24 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 | | | 2026-02-19 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 20 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-03 | Senate | Senator Pekarsky Amendments #4-7 agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-03 | Senate | General Laws and Technology Amendment rejected | 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 amendments | pass | 9 | 0 | 6 | ## Actions (51) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0932) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 932 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB493) (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB493ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-13: Conference Report released - 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Substitute bill reprinted 26109455D (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Conference Report released - 2026-03-05: House Conferees: Reaser, Feggans, McLaughlin (House) - 2026-03-05: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-03: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Williams Graves, Jordan (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-27: House requested conference committee (House) - 2026-02-27: House insisted on substitute (House) - 2026-02-26: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-24: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-02-24: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-02-24: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-23: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-19: Substitute bill reprinted 26108170D (House) - 2026-02-19: Committee substitute printed 26108170D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-19: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (20-Y 0-N) (House) - 2026-02-09: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House) - 2026-02-09: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-09: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Floor offered (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Floor offered (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Senator Pekarsky Amendments #4-7 agreed to (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: General Laws and Technology Amendment rejected (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Senator Pekarsky Amendments #1-3 withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day (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: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendments (9-Y 0-N 6-A) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104951D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224713.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224712.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214373.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214372.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210632.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210629.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210628.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170869.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170868.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1112407.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108723.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114785.HTML) - Engrossed, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105615.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105614.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102035.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100003.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090489.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090488.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/1224713.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224712.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214373.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214372.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210632.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210629.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210628.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170869.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170868.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1112407.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108723.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114785.HTML) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105615.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105614.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102035.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100003.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090489.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090488.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-SB493-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).