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General Laws

Tuesday, February 3, 2026·56m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia General Laws Committee advanced a sweeping package of tenant-protection housing bills over repeated 14-6 and 15-5 margins, while also moving contested measures on federal employee hiring preferences and state agency telecommuting rights; several housing bills were held pending drafting fixes or ongoing stakeholder negotiations.

Key Actions

·HB 281 – Tenant Escrow & Landlord Rent Recovery in Possession ActionsNo Vote

+ 13 more actions

Controversies

HB 554 fiscal impact on state agencies not evaluated in subcommittee

An unnamed committee member asked whether the cost of HB 554's record-keeping and reporting requirements on agencies had been discussed. Chair Delaney acknowledged it had not been discussed in subcommittee and that the bill had not been referred to Appropriations, stating she presumed agencies would return to policies they had already once employed. The bill still passed 18 to 3.

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“These amendments situate the bill in the right place where we're still effectuating the intent of that bill, but we're addressing some of the concerns from the realtor. So we worked hard to get a compromise and we should be in peace.”

Delegate Hernandez (patron of HB 1078) — HB 1078 would prevent tenants with dismissed or non-suited unlawful detainers from facing financial collateral consequences; Delegate Hernandez was explaining why amendments lowering a penalty figure from $1,000 to $250 and adding landlord protections were necessary to secure passage.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 850 with substitute and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Report HB 281 as amendedPassed
Report HB 519 as amendedPassed
Report HB 616 as amendedPassed
Report HB 1005 as amendedPassed
Report HB 1078 as amendedPassed
Report HB 834Passed
Report HB 837 as amendedPassed
Report HB 494 with substitute and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Report Language Access Coordinator bill and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Report HB 554 with amendmentPassed
Report HB 870 with substitute (incorporating HB 228)Passed
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TranscriptPreview
Calling the meeting. General laws to order. We're going to start with. We've got. Oh, yeah. Clerk will open the roll for attendance. Thank you. All right, the clerk will close the roll. It looks like we have a qu. Forum. Thank you. We're going to start with. We have four bills to be referred. House Bill 1121 and House Bill 1449 to Appropriations. Do I hear a motion so moved? It's been moved and seconded. All those favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Okay, those are referred. And then we have House Bill 1432 and House Bill 1464 need to go to court. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor signify saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Okay, those bills are referred. Now we have one bill in procurement open government subcommittee report chair McClure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have one recommended action to report from the previous procurement open government subcommittee meeting. I have HB850 patron by you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to move the subcommittee substitute on this bill. It's been moved in second. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Okay, the. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr.…
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