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HB1361Introduced in the House of Delegates

Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; civil action for unlawful detainer, termination notice.

Passed

Introduced by Michelle Maldonado, District 20

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; civil action for unlawful detainer; termination notice; energy submetering equipment. Provides that no landlord shall file or maintain an action for unlawful detainer against a residential tenant for any alleged lease violation until the landlord has provided the tenant with a proper and effective termination notice and that no notice of termination of tenancy for nonpayment of rent pursuant to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act shall be effective unless such notice contains a written statement of charges and payments over the course of the tenancy or the past 12 months, whichever is shorter, and any late charges, attorney fees, costs, and other charges or damages as contracted for in the rental agreement that are due and owing. The bill requires such notice to also include debits and credits incurred by the tenant for energy and utility bills and any additional charges permitted as applicable. The bill also requires the owner of any residential building to maintain adequate records indicating how monthly energy and utility billing fees are calculated and including a history of billing fee payments for each tenant over the duration of the tenancy or the past 12 months, whichever is shorter. Such records shall be made available to the tenant upon request. Finally, the bill removes a provision allowing for the collection of fees when a tenant requests such records. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 294.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0783)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A) · March 11, 2026

71

Yes

28

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates 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 delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Presented and ordered printed 26104734D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1361)

  4. Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

  6. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  7. Committee substitute printed 26107222D-H1

  8. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1361)

  9. Read first time

  10. Read second time

  11. committee substitute agreed to

  12. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  13. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  14. Read third time and passed House (79-Y 18-N 0-A)

  15. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  16. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  17. Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  18. Senate committee offered

  19. Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (14-Y 1-N)

  20. Rules suspended

  21. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. Passed by for the day

  24. Read third time

  25. General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  26. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  27. Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  28. Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)

  29. Enrolled

  30. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1361ER)

  31. Signed by President

  32. Signed by Speaker

  33. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  34. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  35. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1361)

  36. Approved by Governor-Chapter 783 (Effective 7/1/2027)

  37. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0783)

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