SB 273 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Program, eligibility.

Summary
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Program; eligibility. Requires any general district court that implements the Eviction Diversion Program to attach information about the Program, including eligibility criteria, to any summons for unlawful detainer. The bill also alters eligibility requirements for a tenant to participate in the Program. This bill is identical to HB 837.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

General Laws and Technology Substitute Enrolled · 5 edits · Feb 26, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to refine eligibility criteria and payment schedules for the Eviction Diversion Program. The changes ensure that tenants must have a clean record regarding payment plans and redemption rights, while also adjusting the required initial payment percentage and the subsequent monthly payment schedule to better align with standard financial planning.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the Eviction Diversion Program for unlawful detainer cases, but the specific rules governing who qualifies and how payments are structured have been tightened and clarified.
ELIGIBILITY

Updated eligibility requirements to clarify that tenants must not have defaulted on a rent payment plan or exercised redemption rights within the last 12 months, replacing the previous six-month window for redemption.

Corrected a phrasing error in the eligibility section to clearly state that tenants must not owe outstanding rent under any payment plan executed within the last 12 months.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the required initial payment from 25 percent to 30 percent of the amount due on the unlawful detainer.

Adjusted the payment schedule for remaining amounts, changing the due dates from the fifth day of the month following the hearing to the fifth day of the second and third months following the initial court hearing date.

TECHNICAL

Standardized formatting and section numbering throughout the bill text to match official legislative style.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Feb 6, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 818 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB273ER)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (65-Y 33-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws (17-Y 4-N)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 9-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (13-Y 1-N)
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate subcommittee offered
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mamie Locke
Mamie Locke
DDemocratic
VA
23