Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 597 — Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.

Last action — Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

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 chance

Based 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

Advancing 60% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    6 passed, 1 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; enforcement by localities. Provides that if a condition exists in a rental dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not promptly corrected, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of tenants or occupants of the premises, a locality may institute an action for injunction and damages to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the rental dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the property where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the property, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice. This bill is identical to SB 479. 

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

26 added · 33 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 597 clarifies that local governments can take legal action against landlords who fail to maintain rental properties in good condition. Specifically, if there are serious issues like rodent infestations or lack of essential utilities, localities can seek court orders to compel landlords to fix these problems, provided they have given the landlord reasonable notice. This change is significant because it empowers local authorities to better protect tenants’ rights and health, ensuring that they can live in safe and habitable conditions.

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Previous
Latest
SESSION INTRODUCED 24100867D HOUSE BILL NO.
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 55.1-1259 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
597 I Offered January 10, 2024 N Prefiled January 9, 2024 T A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1259 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
R –––––––––– O Patrons––Price, Benn––––––––––, Glass and LeVere Bolling Referred to Committee on General Laws D –––––––––– U Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
R O [H 597] Approved L L 1.
C 1.
E § 55.1-1259.
Actions to enforce chapter.
In addition to any other remedies in this chapter, any person adversely affected by an act or omission prohibited under this chapter may institute an action for injunction and damages against the person responsible for such act or omission in the circuit court in the county or city in which such act or omission occurred.
In addition to any other remedies in this chapter, any person adversely affected by an act or omission prohibited under this chapter may institute an action for injunction and damages against the person responsible for such act or omission in the circuit court in the county or city in which such act shall enjoin the defendant from continuance of such practice, and in its discretion award the plaintifft damages as provided in this section.
If the court finds that the defendant was responsible for such act or omission, it shall enjoin the defendant from continuance of such practice, and in its discretion award the plaintiff damages as provided in this section.
B.
landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not promptly corrected,by the constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of tenants or occupants of the premises, including infestation of rodents or a lack of heat, hot or cold running water, electrHcity, or adequate sewage disposal facilities, a locality may institute an action for injunction and dama5es in the circuit court in the county or city in which the rental dwelling unit is located to enforce the7landlord's duty to maintain the rental dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the property has notified the landlord who owns the property, either directly or through the managing agent, of thelity nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice.
If a condition exists in a rental dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not promptly correctedH premises, including infestation of rodents or a lack of heat, hot or cold running water, electricity, ore adequate sewage disposal facilities, a locality may institute an action for injunction and damaEes in the circuit court in the county or city in which the rental dwelling unit is located to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the rental dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the property where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice.
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Action History

  1. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024

  2. Communicated to Governor

  3. VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 99-N)

  4. House rejected Governor's recommendation (0-Y 99-N)

  5. Passed by until Reconvene, Wednesday, April 17, 2024

  6. Placed on Calendar

  7. Governor's recommendation received by House

  8. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

  9. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024

  10. Signed by President

  11. Signed by Speaker

  12. Impact statement from DPB (HB597ER)

  13. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB597ER)

  14. Enrolled

  15. Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

  16. Read third time

  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

  18. Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N)

  19. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed

  21. VOTE: Passage (53-Y 45-N)

  22. Read third time and passed House (53-Y 45-N)

  23. Read second time and engrossed

  24. Read first time

  25. Reported from General Laws (15-Y 7-N)

  26. Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee for Courts of Justice

  27. Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

  28. Impact statement from DPB (HB597)

  29. Assigned GL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

  30. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  31. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100867D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on · 97 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 99-N)

Failed 0 Yea · 98 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 09801
Total 09801
% of votes cast 0%99%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Nay
Alex Q. Askew — Nay
Alfonso H. Lopez — Nay
Amy J. Laufer — Nay
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Nay
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Nay
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Nay
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
Bulova, David L. — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Nay
Charniele L. Herring — Nay
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Nay
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Nay
David A. Reid — Nay
Debra D. Gardner — Nay
Delores L. McQuinn — Nay
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Nay
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Not Voting
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Nay
Irene Shin — Nay
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Nay
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Nay
Joshua G. Cole — Nay
Kannan Srinivasan — Nay
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Nay
Karrie K. Delaney — Nay
Kathy K.L. Tran — Nay
Katrina Callsen — Nay
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Nay
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Nay
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Nay
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Nay
Marcus B. Simon — Nay
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Marty Martinez — Nay
Michael B. Feggans — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Nay
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Nay
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Nay
Paul E. Krizek — Nay
Phil M. Hernandez — Nay
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Nay
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Nay
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Nay
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Nay
Sam Rasoul — Nay
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Nay
Sickles, Mark D. — Nay
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Nay
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
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. — 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 — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Not Voting
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 — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 38002
Total 38002
% 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

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N)

Passed 14 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14001
Total 14001
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Not Voting
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea

Official roll call →

VOTE: Passage (53-Y 45-N)

Passed 52 Yea · 45 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 524502
Total 524502
% of votes cast 53%45%0%2%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Not Voting
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Not Voting
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws (15-Y 7-N)

Passed 15 Yea · 7 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15700
Total 15700
% of votes cast 68%32%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
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 — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety housing
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 597 do?
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities. Provides that if a condition exists in a rental dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not promptly corrected, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of tenants or occupants of the premises, a locality may institute an action for injunction and damages to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the rental dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the property where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the property, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice. This bill is identical to SB 479. 
Who sponsors HB 597?
HB 597 is sponsored by Marcia S. "Cia" Price, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Jackie H. Glass, and Destiny LeVere Bolling.
What is the current status of HB 597?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 597?
Track HB 597 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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