Contracts; retainage bonds permitted in construction contracts, effective clause.
Summary
Contracts; retainage bonds permitted in construction contracts. Allows, in any construction contract between an owner and a general contractor or between a general contractor and a subcontractor, such contractor or subcontractor to tender a retainage bond, defined in the bill, as a substitute for retainage withheld as security in such contracts. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026
Signed Apr 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Chaptered
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 485 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive legal text regarding retainage bonds remains identical to the previous version, with changes limited to formatting, spacing, and the addition of the official approval date.
TECHNICAL
The document format was updated to reflect official chaptered status, including the addition of the approval date (April 8, 2026) and the chapter number (485).
Excessive blank lines and spacing were added throughout the document to match the standard layout of enacted Virginia statutes.
Minor formatting adjustments were made to the section headers and text alignment, but the legal language and policy provisions remain unchanged.
Floor votes · Senate Jan 30, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026
How they voted
37–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 39
Jan 30, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Apr 8, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter485 (Effective -see bill)
executive
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB165ER)
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
Introduced bill reprinted 26101912D
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jeremy McPike
DDemocratic
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