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HB848Introduced in the House of Delegates

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord, rent escrow, relief.

Passed

Introduced by Rae Cousins, District 79

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord; rent escrow; relief. Removes the requirement that, prior to the granting of any relief, a tenant shall pay into escrow any amount of rent called for under the rental agreement. The bill requires the tenant, during the pendency of the action, to pay into escrow the amount of rent that becomes due within five days of the date due under the rental agreement, unless or until such amount is modified by a subsequent order of the court. The bill also provides that a failure of the tenant to make timely payments into escrow shall not be grounds for dismissal of the underlying action but may be considered by the court when issuing an order. The bill has a delayed effective date of  January 1, 2027.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1118)

May 14, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 33-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

67

Yes

33

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

100 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

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. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101055D

  2. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB848)

  4. Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

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

  6. Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

  7. Read first time

  8. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  9. Read second time and engrossed

  10. Read third time and passed House (73-Y 25-N 0-A)

  11. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  12. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  13. Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  14. Senate committee offered

  15. Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

  16. Rules suspended

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

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

  19. Passed by for the day

  20. Read third time

  21. General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  22. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  23. Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

  24. Senate amendment agreed to by House (70-Y 29-N 0-A)

  25. Enrolled

  26. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB848ER)

  27. Signed by President

  28. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  31. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB848)

  32. Governor's recommendation received by House

  33. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 33-N 0-A)

  34. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  35. Communicated to Governor

  36. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  37. Approved by Governor - Chapter 1118 (effective - 1/1/2027)

  38. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1118)

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