HB 281 VA

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To Executive

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent. Removes the provision requiring that a tenant in possession of a dwelling unit, prior to asserting a defense against an action for rent or possession, pay into court the amount of rent found by the court to be due and unpaid and for such amount to be held by the court pending the issuance of an order. The bill also limits the discretion of the court in actions for possession based upon nonpayment of rent and actions for rent by a landlord when the tenant is in possession of a dwelling unit. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

• Katrina Callsen Democratic · primary

1. Jan 9, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101499D · lower
2. Jan 9, 2026 Referred to Committee on General Laws · lower
3. Jan 23, 2026 Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection · lower
4. Jan 23, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281) · lower
5. Jan 29, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N) · lower
6. Feb 3, 2026 House committee offered · lower
7. Feb 3, 2026 Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N) · lower
8. Feb 5, 2026 Read first time · lower
9. Feb 6, 2026 Read second time · lower
10. Feb 6, 2026 committee amendment agreed to · lower
11. Feb 6, 2026 Engrossed by House as amended · lower
12. Feb 8, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281) · lower
13. Feb 9, 2026 Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A) · lower
14. Feb 10, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
15. Feb 10, 2026 Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology · upper
16. Feb 25, 2026 Assigned GL&T sub: Housing · upper
17. Mar 3, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
18. Mar 4, 2026 Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N) · upper
19. Mar 6, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
20. Mar 6, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
21. Mar 6, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
22. Mar 9, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
23. Mar 10, 2026 Read third time · upper
24. Mar 10, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
25. Mar 11, 2026 General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to · upper
26. Mar 11, 2026 Engrossed by Senate as amended · upper
27. Mar 11, 2026 Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A) · upper
28. Mar 11, 2026 Read third time · upper
29. Mar 12, 2026 Senate amendment agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) · lower
30. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
31. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB281ER) · lower
32. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
33. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
34. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
35. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
36. Apr 1, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB281) · lower
37. Apr 11, 2026 Governor's recommendation received by House · 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.

• Governor Substitute · PDF
• Governor Substitute · HTML
• Governor's Recommendation · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Senate Amendment · HTML
• General Laws and Technology Amendment · HTML
• General Laws and Technology Amendment · HTML
• Engrossed · PDF
• Engrossed · HTML
• General Laws Amendment · HTML
• General Laws Amendment · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML