Housing

vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 281: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent.

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. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves requirement for tenants to pay overdue rent into court before defending against eviction, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

Track

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 164: Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership.

Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership and workforce housing alternatives. Eliminates the maximum amount a locality may provide (i) to employees of the locality, employees of the school board, and employees of constitutional officers for homeownership grants to purchase primary residences in the locality and (ii) to school division personnel for residential housing assistance grants to provide affordable workforce housing alternatives. The bill also eliminates the requirement that such grants adhere to the Virginia Housing and Development Authority regional sales price and household income limitation guidelines. Current law imposes a maximum grant amount of $25,000 for individual grants per employee, as well as a maximum lifetime cumulative amount of $25,000 per employee. This bill is identical to SB 328.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves $25k cap on homeownership grants for local employees, enabling increased financial support for affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Property Taxes

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 527: Eviction Reduction Program; established, report.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Eviction Reduction Program; report. Establishes the Eviction Reduction Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development to expand the Department's work to (i) promote housing stability, (ii) identify factors that contribute to eviction filings, and (iii) provide interventions to prevent or divert evictions. The bill requires the Department to report annually to the General Assembly regarding the Program. The bill directs the Department to develop and include in its report criteria and guidelines necessary to administer the Program in consultation with stakeholders, including Eviction Diversion Program grantees as identified by the Department. This bill is identical to SB 628.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Eviction Reduction Program to prevent evictions, promote housing stability, and protect tenants - directly advancing tenant protections and housing stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 181: Affordable dwelling unit program; adds Roanoke City to list of localities with authority to provide.

Affordable dwelling unit program; City of Roanoke. Adds the City of Roanoke to the list of localities with authority to provide for an affordable dwelling unit program. The bill provides that such change shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly. The bill also requires the Virginia Housing Development Authority to analyze the potential efficacy of the provisions of the bill for the provision of affordable housing in the City of Roanoke and to report the results of such analysis no later than November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds Roanoke to list of cities authorized to establish affordable housing programs, expanding access to such initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 313: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods, prohibited fees.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods; prohibited fees. Requires a landlord subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to accept payment of periodic rent and any security deposit by check and money order. The bill additionally prohibits such a landlord from requiring a tenant to pay any fee to submit periodic rent payments or other amounts due in excess of the actual out-of-pocket expenses charged to the landlord by a third party to process a payment. Finally, the bill prohibits a landlord from requiring a tenant to pay any fee for the maintenance or repair of any dwelling unit unless the repair is necessitated by the tenant's violation of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. This bill is identical to HB 1005.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlords from charging tenants for maintenance fees unless tenant caused issue, strengthening tenant protections in housing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 1021: Affordable housing; development of an assisted living facility.

Affordable housing; assisted living facilities. Allows localities that have adopted an affordable housing program to require that, in an application for a special exception or special use permit, affordable rental units be included for any proposed development of an assisted living facility.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires affordable rental units in assisted living facility permits, directly increasing affordable housing supply through local ordinance enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

Track

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 898: Electric utilities, certain; SCC to determine maximum amount of fees for disconnection, etc.

State Corporation Commission to determine maximum fees for disconnection of utility service for nonpayment. Directs the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) to determine, in the next relevant cost recovery proceeding for certain utilities, the maximum allowable amount of fees for disconnection and reconnection such utilities may charge to residential customers disconnected from service due to nonpayment of bills or fees. The bill defines "utility" as an electric company, natural gas supplier, or water supplier or wastewater service provider subject to the Commission's regulation.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill protects utility consumers by prohibiting disconnections for nonpayment and certain fees, aligning with 'protects utility consumers' energy policy indicator.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits utility fees for disconnection suspensions, protecting tenants from financial penalties that could lead to housing instability or eviction.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Utility Regulation

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 273: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Program, eligibility.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes Eviction Diversion Program to prevent tenant evictions, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy by requiring court information and enabling locality eligibility rules.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 373: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves requirement for tenants to pay rent into court before using nonpayment defense, strengthening tenant protections against eviction under VA landlord-tenant law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1408: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, rental agreement noncompliance.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies; rental agreement noncompliance; victim of family abuse. Removes the requirement that a tenant who is a victim of family abuse provide the landlord prompt notification should the perpetrator return to the dwelling unit to prevent the landlord from terminating a lease solely due to such act of family abuse occurring in the dwelling unit or on the premises by a perpetrator barred from the dwelling unit. Under the bill, if the tenant provides the landlord with a copy of the protective order, should the perpetrator not already be barred from the unit by the landlord, the lease shall not be terminated due solely to an act of family abuse against the tenant by a perpetrator barred from the dwelling unit.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects tenants who are victims of family abuse from lease termination, aligning with criminal justice reform by safeguarding civil rights and reducing barriers for abuse survivors.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents lease termination for tenants who are victims of family abuse by removing notification requirements, strengthening tenant protections under housing law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Landlords Tenant Rights