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HB527 • 2026

Eviction Reduction Program; established, report.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 8 of Title 36 a section numbered 36-140.02, relating to Department of Housing and Community Development; Eviction Reduction Program; report.

Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
McClure
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how much funding will be allocated or what actions landlords are required to take under the program.

Eviction Reduction Program

This law establishes an Eviction Reduction Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development to prevent evictions and requires annual reports on its progress.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a new program called the Eviction Reduction Program inside the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • The program aims to promote housing stability, identify factors contributing to eviction filings, and provide interventions to prevent or divert evictions.
  • Requires the department to report annually to the General Assembly on the number of households served, types of assistance provided, geographic distribution, success rates in Eviction Diversion Programs, and legislative recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People at risk of eviction
  • Families living in Virginia
  • Housing agencies and organizations

Terms To Know

Eviction Reduction Program
A program created by the Department of Housing and Community Development to help prevent evictions.
Stakeholders
People or groups who are involved in or affected by a decision, such as those running eviction prevention programs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be given to the program.
  • It is unclear what specific actions landlords must take under this law.
  • The exact details of the guidelines and criteria for the program are yet to be developed by the Department.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 164 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 164 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0164)

  4. 2026-04-01 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB527)

  5. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  7. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  9. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  10. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  11. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  12. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB527ER)

  13. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  14. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  15. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  16. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  18. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  19. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Rules suspended

  20. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  21. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-03-04 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology (10-Y 5-N)

  24. 2026-02-25 Housing

    Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  25. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  26. 2026-02-18 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  27. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)

  28. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time

  29. 2026-02-16 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  30. 2026-02-16 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  31. 2026-02-13 House

    Read first time

  32. 2026-02-12 General Laws

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB527)

  33. 2026-02-11 Appropriations

    Reported from Appropriations

  34. 2026-02-11 Appropriations

    Reported from Appropriations (17-Y 5-N)

  35. 2026-02-11 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 1-N)

  36. 2026-02-10 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

    Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

  37. 2026-02-10 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 4-N)

  38. 2026-02-10 General Laws

    Committee substitute printed 26106258D-H1

  39. 2026-02-05 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N)

  40. 2026-02-05 Housing/Consumer Protection

    House subcommittee offered

  41. 2026-01-26 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB527)

  42. 2026-01-23 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

  43. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103259D

  44. 2026-01-13 General Laws

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Department of Housing and Community Development; Eviction Reduction Program; report.
Establishes the Eviction Reduction Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development to expand the Department's work to (i) promote housing stability, (ii) identify factors that contribute to eviction filings, and (iii) provide interventions to prevent or divert evictions. The bill requires the Department to report annually to the General Assembly regarding the Program. The bill directs the Department to develop and include in its report criteria and guidelines necessary to administer the Program in consultation with stakeholders, including Eviction Diversion Program grantees as identified by the Department. This bill is identical to SB 628.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 8 of Title 36 a section numbered
36-140.02
, relating to Department of Housing and Community Development; Eviction Reduction Program; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 8 of Title 36 a section numbered
36-140.02
as follows:
§
36-140.02
. Eviction Reduction Program; report.
A. The Eviction Reduction Program (the Program) is established to expand the work of the Department in (i) promoting housing stability, (ii) identifying factors that contribute to eviction filings, (iii) providing interventions to prevent or divert evictions, and (iv) supporting eviction prevention and diversion efforts across the Commonwealth consistent with this section.
B. On or before October 1 of each year, the Department shall report to the General Assembly on (i) the number of households served, including the number of children younger than the age of 18 in the households served, and the outcomes for such households; (ii) the types of assistance provided; (iii) the geographic distribution of the Program; (iv) the number of households served that successfully completed the Eviction Diversion Program pursuant to §
55.1-1260
; and (v) any legislative recommendations to help further the goals of the Program.
C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or affect any rights, obligations, or actions taken by the Department pursuant to the Program prior to the enactment of the provisions under this section.
2. That the Department of Housing and Community Development (the Department) shall develop guidelines and criteria necessary to administer the Eviction Reduction Program established pursuant to §
36-140.02
of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, in consultation with stakeholders, including Eviction Reduction Program grantees as identified by the Department. Such criteria and guidelines shall be included in the report required pursuant to subsection B of §
36-140.02
of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act.