HB 588 — VA Residential Landlord &Tenant Act; fire/casualty damage, landlord requirements for termination.
Last action — Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House of Delegates
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on February 25, 2024.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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4 sponsors
1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.
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Mixed recorded votes
6 passed, 2 failed in recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage; termination by landlord. Requires a landlord, prior to giving a tenant 21 days' notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement for a dwelling unit that has been damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty, to (i) make a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant to discuss reasonable alternatives and to offer the tenant a substantially similar unit, if one is available, or (ii) determine that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit in accordance with certain provisions. Current law allows the landlord to terminate such agreement by giving the tenant 14 days' notice of his intention to terminate on the basis of the landlord's determination that such damage requires the removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired. The bill requires the landlord, upon receiving a request from the tenant after the tenant has received such notice, to reevaluate the extent of damage and habitability of such unit unless the landlord has determined that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
40 added · 42 removedPlain-language change summary
The revised version of Bill HB 588 includes changes that clarify the process for terminating a rental agreement if a dwelling unit is damaged by fire or other accidents. Specifically, it now specifies that both tenants and landlords can initiate the termination under certain conditions, with a clear timeline for notification. These changes are important because they provide a structured procedure for both parties to follow, ensuring that tenants have a defined method to exit their lease when their living conditions are compromised, while also outlining the landlord's responsibilities to communicate with the tenant.
SESSION HOUSEENROLLED SUBSTITUTEVIRGINIA 24106219DACTS HOUSEOF BILLASSEMBLY NO.–– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 55.1-1240 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
588 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on General Laws (Patron Prior to Substitute––Delegate McClure) A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1240 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
R O [H 588] L Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
L 1.
E § 55.1-1240.
Fire or casualty damage.
If the dwelling unit or premises is damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that the tenant's enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired or required the unit requires repairs that can only be accomplished if the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, either the tenant or the landlord may terminateterB. the rental agreement.
HThe tenant may terminate the rental agreement by vacating the premises and within 14 21 days thereafter, serving on the landlord a written notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating.
UH C.
The landlord may terminate the rental agreement by giving the tenant 14 21 days' notice ofo5 his intention to terminate the rental agreement on the basis of the landlord's determination if, prSorpr8or to giving the1.
(i) Has met with or has made a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant to discuss the eEtentextent of the damage to the tenant's unit and whether any reasonable alternatives to terminating the rental agreement are available and (ii) has determined whether a substantially similar unit within the same complex is available for rent within a reasonable time for the tenant to move into such unit and if so, has offered to lease such unit to the tenant under the tenant's current lease terms.
If the lanSlordlandlord has removalmet of the tenantrequirements andof thatthis thesubdivision useand of the premiseslandlord ishas substantiallydetermined impaired,that insuch whichdamage caserequires the rental agreement terminates shall terminate as of the expiration of the notice period;
ororin which case the rental 2.
SD. make a written request to have the landlord reevaluate the extent of the damage and habitability of the tenant's unit.
Within seven days of receiving the termination notice pursuant to subdivision C 1, a tenant may make a written request to have the landlord reevaluate the extent of the damage and habitability of the tenant's unit.
If, after meeting with the requires the removal of the tenant orand makingthat athe reasonableuse effortof tothe meetpremises withis substantially impaired, the tenant,rental agreement shall terminate at the landlordexpiration determinesof thatthe suchoriginal damagenotice :period.
36E. requires the removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired, The rental 37 agreement shall terminate at the expiration of the original notice period.
UIf 39the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all security deposits in accordance with § 55.1-1226 and prepaid rent, plus accrued interest, recoverable by law unless the landlordaccordancelandlord 40 reasonably believes that the tenant, an authorized occupant, or a guest or invitee of the tenant was the cause of the damage or casualty, in which case the landlord shall provide a written statement tEto the tenantmay forrecover theactual securitydamages andsustained prepaidpursuant rent,to plus§ accrued55.1-1251. interest based upon the damage or casualty, and termination or apportionment shall be made as of the date of the casualty.r rent in the event of B H 1
Proration for rent in the event ofy, and termination or apportionment shall be made as of the date of the casualty.
View plain text versions (3)
- HB588ER View text Current pdf February 22, 2024
- Committee Substitute Committee substitute printed 24106219D-H1 pdf January 30, 2024
- Prefiled Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104482D pdf January 09, 2024
Action History
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Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024
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Communicated to Governor
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VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 100-N)
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House rejected Governor's recommendation (0-Y 100-N)
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Passed by until Reconvene, Wednesday, April 17, 2024
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Placed on Calendar
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Governor's recommendation received by House
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Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024
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Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024
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Signed by President
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Signed by Speaker
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Impact statement from DPB (HB588ER)
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Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB588ER)
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Enrolled
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Passed Senate (30-Y 9-N)
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Read third time
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Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
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Reported from General Laws and Technology (12-Y 3-N)
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Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
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Constitutional reading dispensed
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VOTE: Passage (69-Y 29-N)
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Read third time and passed House (69-Y 29-N)
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Read third time and passed House (69-Y 29-N)
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Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB588H1
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Committee substitute agreed to 24106219D-H1
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Read second time
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Read first time
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Impact statement from DPB (HB588H1)
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Committee substitute printed 24106219D-H1
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Reported from General Laws with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
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Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
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House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
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Impact statement from DPB (HB588)
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Assigned GL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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Referred from Courts of Justice
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104482D
Sponsors
- Adele Y. McClure · Primary
- Nadarius E. Clark · Cosponsor
- Jr. Rozia A. Henson · Cosponsor
- Irene Shin · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on · 106 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Adele Y. McClure Voted No
Co-sponsors (3)
- Nadarius E. Clark Voted No
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr. Voted No
- Irene Shin Voted No
Not signed on (144)
144 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 144 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 99 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 99 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 30 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 30 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 75% | 23% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron R. Rouse | — | Yea |
| Angelia Williams Graves | — | Yea |
| Barbara A. Favola | — | Yea |
| Bill DeSteph | — | Nay |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Nay |
| Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. | — | Yea |
| Christie New Craig | — | Yea |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Danica A. Roem | — | Yea |
| David R. Suetterlein | — | Yea |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Yea |
| Emily M. Jordan | — | Yea |
| Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. | — | Nay |
| Hashmi, Ghazala F. | — | Yea |
| J.D. "Danny" Diggs | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Lamont Bagby | — | Yea |
| Lashrecse D. Aird | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Yea |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Yea |
| McGuire, John J., III | — | Nay |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Not Voting |
| Russet Perry | — | Yea |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Nay |
| Saddam Azlan Salim | — | Yea |
| Schuyler T. VanValkenburg | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| Stella G. Pekarsky | — | Yea |
| Subramanyam, Suhas | — | Yea |
| T. Travis Hackworth | — | Nay |
| Tammy Brankley Mulchi | — | Yea |
| Tara A. Durant | — | Nay |
| Timmy French | — | Nay |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Yea |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 38 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 38 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron R. Rouse | — | Yea |
| Angelia Williams Graves | — | Yea |
| Barbara A. Favola | — | Yea |
| Bill DeSteph | — | Yea |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Yea |
| Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. | — | Yea |
| Christie New Craig | — | Yea |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Danica A. Roem | — | Yea |
| David R. Suetterlein | — | Yea |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Yea |
| Emily M. Jordan | — | Yea |
| Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Hashmi, Ghazala F. | — | Not Voting |
| J.D. "Danny" Diggs | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Lamont Bagby | — | Yea |
| Lashrecse D. Aird | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Yea |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Yea |
| McGuire, John J., III | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Yea |
| Russet Perry | — | Yea |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Yea |
| Saddam Azlan Salim | — | Yea |
| Schuyler T. VanValkenburg | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| Stella G. Pekarsky | — | Yea |
| Subramanyam, Suhas | — | Yea |
| T. Travis Hackworth | — | Yea |
| Tammy Brankley Mulchi | — | Yea |
| Tara A. Durant | — | Yea |
| Timmy French | — | Not Voting |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Yea |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 80% | 20% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (15)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron R. Rouse | — | Yea |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Yea |
| Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. | — | Yea |
| Christie New Craig | — | Nay |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Danica A. Roem | — | Yea |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Yea |
| Emily M. Jordan | — | Nay |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| Lashrecse D. Aird | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Schuyler T. VanValkenburg | — | Yea |
| Subramanyam, Suhas | — | Yea |
| Timmy French | — | Nay |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 68 | 29 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 68 | 29 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 69% | 29% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (22)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Adele Y. McClure | — | Yea |
| Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. | — | Yea |
| Betsy B. Carr | — | Yea |
| Bill Wiley | — | Yea |
| Bulova, David L. | — | Yea |
| Coyner, Carrie E. | — | Yea |
| Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | — | Yea |
| Ellen H. McLaughlin | — | Yea |
| Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. | — | Yea |
| Holly M. Seibold | — | Yea |
| James A. "Jay" Leftwich | — | Nay |
| James W. Morefield | — | Yea |
| Joshua E. Thomas | — | Yea |
| Joshua G. Cole | — | Yea |
| Karrie K. Delaney | — | Yea |
| Knight, Barry D. | — | Yea |
| Luke E. Torian | — | Yea |
| Marcia S. "Cia" Price | — | Yea |
| Marcus B. Simon | — | Yea |
| Paul E. Krizek | — | Yea |
| Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Terry L. Austin | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 78% | 11% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. | — | Nay |
| Betsy B. Carr | — | Yea |
| Bulova, David L. | — | Not Voting |
| Coyner, Carrie E. | — | Yea |
| Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | — | Yea |
| Joshua E. Thomas | — | Yea |
| Marcia S. "Cia" Price | — | Yea |
| Marcus B. Simon | — | Yea |
| Terry L. Austin | — | Yea |
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 588 do?
- Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage; termination by landlord. Requires a landlord, prior to giving a tenant 21 days' notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement for a dwelling unit that has been damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty, to (i) make a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant to discuss reasonable alternatives and to offer the tenant a substantially similar unit, if one is available, or (ii) determine that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit in accordance with certain provisions. Current law allows the landlord to terminate such agreement by giving the tenant 14 days' notice of his intention to terminate on the basis of the landlord's determination that such damage requires the removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired. The bill requires the landlord, upon receiving a request from the tenant after the tenant has received such notice, to reevaluate the extent of damage and habitability of such unit unless the landlord has determined that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit.
- Who sponsors HB 588?
- HB 588 is sponsored by Adele Y. McClure, Nadarius E. Clark, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., and Irene Shin.
- What is the current status of HB 588?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 588?
- Track HB 588 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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