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SB373Introduced in the Senate

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent.

Passed

Introduced by Jennifer Boysko, District 38

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0959)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) · February 26, 2026

21

Yes

19

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100767D

  2. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  3. Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)

  5. Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)

  6. Rules suspended

  7. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  8. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  9. Passed by for the day

  10. Read second time

  11. Floor offered Senator Boysko Amendment

  12. Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

  13. Senator Boysko Amendment agreed to

  14. Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  15. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)

  17. Placed on Calendar

  18. Read first time

  19. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  20. House committee offered

  21. Reported from General Laws with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

  22. Committee substitute printed 26108192D-H1

  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)

  24. Read second time

  25. Read third time

  26. committee substitute agreed to

  27. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  28. Passed House with substitute (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  29. House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  30. Enrolled

  31. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB373ER)

  32. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB373)

  33. Signed by Speaker

  34. Signed by President

  35. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

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

  37. Approved by Governor-Chapter 959 (effective 7/1/2026)

  38. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0959)

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