SB 540 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Undue influence; presumptions in actions contesting validity of a trust or trust instrument.

Summary

Undue influence; presumption in actions contesting validity of certain trust or instrument. Provides that, in an action contesting the validity of a trust or trust instrument, where a presumption of undue influence arises, the fact finder shall presume that the undue influence was exerted over the decedent unless evidence leads the fact finder to determine that the decedent did intend for the real or personal property to be conveyed or transferred as indicated. Current law applies this presumption of undue influence only to actions contesting the validity of a will.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill transitions a House substitute version of a law into its final, enacted chapter form. The substantive legal text regarding the presumption of undue influence in trust contests remains identical, meaning the core policy and legal standards have not changed, only the document's status and formatting.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability is unchanged; it continues to apply to actions contesting the validity of trusts created under Virginia law.

TECHNICAL

The document status changed from a 'House Substitute' proposal to an 'Enacted Chapter' (Chapter 506) approved by the General Assembly.

Added standard legislative header formatting, including the session title, chapter number, and approval date.

Removed draft-specific metadata such as bill numbers, committee attribution, and patron names.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 39

Feb 13, 2026

D Democratic20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican19

16 Yea 3

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 506 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB540ER)

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with substitute (67-Y 30-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors