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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 281

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (3)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 12, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 11, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 6, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 4, 2026
Senate		Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendmentpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 9, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 3, 2026
House		Reported from General Laws with amendment(s)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reportingpassSet your home in Virginia to see

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