Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit. (SB1215)

Introduced By

Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon), Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Midlothian), and Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit, interruption of services, or actions taken to make premises unsafe. Provides that a general district court shall enter an order upon petition by a tenant that his landlord has (i) removed or excluded the tenant from the dwelling unit unlawfully, (ii) interrupted or caused the interruption of an essential service to the tenant, or (iii) taken action to make the premises unsafe for habitation. The bill allows entry of a preliminary order ex parte to require the landlord to allow the tenant to recover possession of the dwelling unit, resume any such interrupted essential service, or fix any willful actions taken by the landlord or his agent to make the premises unsafe for habitation if there is good cause to do so and the tenant made reasonable efforts to notify the landlord of the hearing. The bill requires that any ex parte order entered shall further indicate a date for a full hearing on the petition that is no later than 10 days from the initial hearing date. Finally, the bill provides that, at a full hearing on such petition and upon proper evidence presented, the tenant shall recover actual damages, the greater of $5,000 or four months' rent, and reasonable attorney fees. This bill is identical to HB 1900. Read the Bill »

Status

03/30/2021: signed by governor

History

DateAction
01/11/2021Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21102805D
01/11/2021Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/19/2021Impact statement from DPB (SB1215)
01/27/2021Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
01/27/2021Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (13-Y 0-N 2-A) (see vote tally)
01/29/2021Constitutional reading dispensed (35-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2021Read second time
02/01/2021Reading of amendment waived
02/01/2021Committee amendment agreed to
02/01/2021Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1215E
02/01/2021Printed as engrossed 21102805D-E
02/02/2021Read third time and passed Senate (27-Y 12-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2021Impact statement from DPB (SB1215E)
02/05/2021Placed on Calendar
02/05/2021Read first time
02/05/2021Referred to Committee on General Laws
02/08/2021Continued to Special Session 1 in General Laws
02/11/2021House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
02/11/2021Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (13-Y 9-N) (see vote tally)
02/15/2021Read second time
02/16/2021Read third time
02/16/2021Committee amendment agreed to
02/16/2021Engrossed by House as amended
02/16/2021Passed House with amendment (54-Y 45-N)
02/16/2021VOTE: Passage (54-Y 45-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2021House amendment agreed to by Senate (24-Y 13-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2021Reconsideration of House amendment agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2021House amendment agreed to by Senate (24-Y 15-N) (see vote tally)
02/22/2021Enrolled
02/22/2021Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1215ER)
02/22/2021Impact statement from DPB (SB1215ER)
02/22/2021Signed by President
02/24/2021Signed by Speaker
02/25/2021Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 25, 2021
02/25/2021G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 31, 2021
03/30/2021G Approved by Governor-Chapter 404 (effective 7/1/21)
03/30/2021G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0404)