HB1078Introduced in the House of Delegates
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; adverse action by landlord, tenant remedies.
Introduced by Phil Hernandez, District 94
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; adverse action by landlord; tenant remedies. Prohibits a residential landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in the Commonwealth from taking adverse action against a prospective tenant due to the prospective tenant's history of a dismissed or nonsuited unlawful detainer case. The bill allows a prospective tenant to recover, as a result of any such adverse action, (i) actual damages, (ii) statutory damages of $250, and (iii) reasonable attorney fees.
Where it stands
Left in General Laws and Technology
March 14, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 6, 2026
39
Yes
0
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Absent |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101609D
Referred to Committee on General Laws
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1078)
Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 4-N)
House committee offered
Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (16-Y 5-N)
Read first time
Read second time
committee amendments agreed to
Engrossed by House as amended
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1078)
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing
Senate committee offered
Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day
Read third time
Passed by for the day
Motion to recommit to General Laws and Technology agreed to
Recommitted to General Laws and Technology
Left in General Laws and Technology
Verify the information
- Official page on the Virginia Legislature website
- General Laws Amendment (amendment)
- General Laws Amendment (amendment)
- General Laws and Technology Amendment (amendment)
- General Laws and Technology Amendment (amendment)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Introduced (text)
- Engrossed (text)
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