Real Property - Access to Counsel in Evictions Program - Expansion
SB 729 expands a legal aid program that provides representation to tenants facing eviction to include residents of mobile home parks, ensuring they receive legal help during eviction proceedings. The bill requires mobile home park owners to establish pet policies, ensure water meets safety standards, and follow new rules for fees and utility billing, while banning them from denying services due to unpaid rent or personal characteristics. It also mandates a time period for residents to pay overdue rent before eviction and requires park owners to include subtenants as defendants in eviction cases. These changes strengthen tenant protections and clarify responsibilities for mobile home park owners.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 6, 2026
Signed May 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
First - Real Property - Access to Counsel in Evictions Program and Mobile Home Parks
→
Third - Real Property - Access to Counsel in Evictions Program - Expansion
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3 edits
MINOR
This bill revision expands the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program by clarifying that legal representation covers the repossession of mobile home park premises, not just the initial eviction filing. It also updates the bill's title and metadata to reflect this broader scope and recent legislative actions.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include the repossession of mobile home park premises under Title 8A as a qualifying event for legal representation, whereas the previous version focused primarily on eviction proceedings.
SCOPE
The definition of qualifying proceedings was updated to explicitly include the repossession of mobile home park premises alongside standard eviction proceedings.
The bill title and short description were updated to reflect the expansion of the program's reach to mobile home park repossession cases.
TECHNICAL
Header metadata was updated to include a committee report status, adoption date, and a new bill number reference (HB 1571).
Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 31, 2026
How they voted
44–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 5, 2026
D
Democratic36
91% Yea
R
Republican13
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 26, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 754
executive
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 31, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (102-35-5)
house of delegates
Mar 21, 2026
Committee
Referred Judiciary
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)
senate
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Shaneka Henson
DDemocratic
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