Posted on 03/14/2026 2:01:14 PM PDT by AbolishCSEU
Virginia 2026 Bills — Key Points in Plain English
Eviction & Tenant Protections
SB 48 — More Time Before Eviction
Tenants get 14 days instead of 5 to pay late rent before a landlord can file for eviction.
SB 273 — Easier Access to Eviction Diversion Program
Tenants only need to pay 10% upfront (not 25%) to enter a payment plan.
No longer need to be employed — just need income to make payments.
Courts must give tenants info about the program.
Localities can set their own rules.
SB 313 — Limits on Landlord Fees
Landlords cannot charge extra fees for paying rent unless it’s the actual credit card processing cost.
Landlords cannot charge tenants for repairs unless the tenant caused the damage.
HB 221 — Appeals for Low Income Tenants
Makes it easier for indigent tenants to appeal eviction decisions by clarifying how appeal bonds work.
Consumer Debt & Garnishment Protections
SB 301 / HB 601 — Automatic $1,000 Protection in Bank Accounts
Banks must automatically protect up to $1,000 from garnishment.
Certain benefits (Social Security, veterans’ benefits, unemployment) are automatically protected.
No hearing or paperwork required.
Adjusts for inflation every 3 years.
Does not apply to child/spousal support debts.
HB 444 — Proof Required Before Debt Collectors Get Default Judgments
Debt collectors must show real documentation (contract, chain of ownership, accurate records) before getting a default judgment.
Applies to most consumer debts.
Government debts and repossessions are excluded.
Consumers get a standardized notice of their rights.
Any attempt to waive these protections is void.
Ultra Simple Summary:
More time before eviction (SB 48).
Easier payment plans to avoid eviction (SB 273).
Landlords can’t charge junk fees (SB 313).
Low income tenants can appeal evictions more easily (HB 221).
$1,000 in your bank account is automatically protected from garnishment (SB 301 / HB 601).
Debt collectors must show real proof before winning by default (HB 444).
“...The backlash has begun. Pro 2nd people are hand out AK 47s in defiance of Red Spamburgers ban. Something is happening in Virginia, and it could mabey, affect the Senate race....”
The Spermburger is a nasty AWFL shit sandwich that the communists are gonna ever regret biting into.... Hopefully, real soon.
Bye Bye Virginia!! You get what you voted form schmucks!
Yep, I’ve heard the horror stories. The current tenants are new to NoVa, are house shopping and the lease is up at the end of May, before any of these new laws would go into effect. They are the last. The eviction that I had to pursue in Loudoun County 15 years ago was bad enough. Couldn’t imagine the nightmare that that will turn into now. Hopefully a new family will buy and just take the property off of the rental market for good, denying any losers in the area the chance to screw an honest landlord.
Why is that? Are you a communist who wants to expropriate the capital of property owners?
Virginians had better be PISSED! OFF! AT! DEMOCRATS!
With communism, you are either in, or you are out...
Sad to hear you are in...
This is a perfect example of why we have such a group of rich people at the top.
Think about this new law.
It will tend to drive out small landlords.
Large rental companies have staff to keep up with a new law like this.
Smaller owners won’t .
Crap like this is why smaller businesses have been drive out of the economy.
Liberals like power concentrated .
They dislike entrepreneurs
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