HB 845 VA

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Became Law

Unlawful detainer; bifurcation of case; contested rent and damages. Provides that, at an initial hearing on an unlawful detainer, if the defendant contests the amount of rent and damages alleged to be due and owing to the plaintiff, the court shall not bifurcate the unlawful detainer case. Under current law, at the initial hearing, upon request of the plaintiff, the court is required to bifurcate the unlawful detainer case and set a continuance date no later than 120 days from the date of the initial hearing to determine final rent and damages.

• Rae Cousins Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101054D · lower
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · lower
3. Feb 2, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB845) · lower
4. Feb 2, 2026 Assigned HCJ sub: Civil · lower
5. Feb 4, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) · lower
6. Feb 11, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) · lower
7. Feb 13, 2026 Read first time · lower
8. Feb 16, 2026 Read second time and engrossed · lower
9. Feb 17, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
10. Feb 17, 2026 Read third time and passed House (74-Y 23-N 0-A) · lower
11. Feb 18, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
12. Feb 18, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · upper
13. Mar 9, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) · upper
14. Mar 10, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
15. Mar 10, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
16. Mar 10, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
17. Mar 11, 2026 Read third time · upper
18. Mar 11, 2026 Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) · upper
19. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
20. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB845ER) · lower
21. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
22. Mar 31, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB845) · lower
23. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
24. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
25. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
26. Apr 8, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 432 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
27. Apr 8, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0432) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML