Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 373
Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic)
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.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:13 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2026 Senate | Concur House Substitute R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 24, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 19, 2026 House | Reported from General Laws with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 10, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 6, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 959 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 2, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373) - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB373ER) - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled - Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Passed House with substitute (63-Y 34-N 0-A) - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute - Feb 24, 2026 · House
committee substitute agreed to - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Read third time - Feb 23, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 20, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373) - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Committee substitute printed 26108192D-H1 - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Reported from General Laws with substitute (15-Y 6-N) - Feb 19, 2026 · House
House committee offered - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on General Laws - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373) - Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Senator Boysko Amendment agreed to - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote) - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Floor offered Senator Boysko Amendment - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N) - Jan 26, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373) - Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100767D