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SB628 • 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
Locke
Last action
2026-03-31
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the program will be funded or what interventions and assistance will be provided to prevent evictions.

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 activities.

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 the Eviction Diversion Program, and any legislative recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People at risk of losing their homes
  • Landlords and property owners
  • Local government agencies involved in housing issues

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 similar programs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the program will be funded.
  • It is unclear what specific interventions and assistance will be provided to prevent evictions.
  • The exact criteria for identifying stakeholders and grantees are not detailed in the legislation.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 33 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0033)

  3. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  4. 2026-03-10 Governor

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

  5. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by Speaker

  6. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signed by President

  7. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Enrolled

  8. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB628ER)

  9. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB628)

  10. 2026-02-24 House

    Read third time

  11. 2026-02-24 House

    Passed House (65-Y 32-N 0-A)

  12. 2026-02-23 House

    Read second time

  13. 2026-02-19 House

    Placed on Calendar

  14. 2026-02-19 House

    Read first time

  15. 2026-02-19 General Laws

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

  16. 2026-02-19 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws (17-Y 4-N)

  17. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Read second time

  19. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  20. 2026-02-12 General Laws and Technology

    General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to

  21. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  22. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Rules suspended

  23. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  24. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  25. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  26. 2026-02-10 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 4-N)

  27. 2026-02-08 General Laws and Technology

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB628)

  28. 2026-02-05 General Laws and Technology

    Committee substitute printed 26106373D-S1

  29. 2026-02-04 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  30. 2026-01-28 Housing

    Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  31. 2026-01-28 Housing

    Senate subcommittee offered

  32. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB628)

  33. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105427D

  34. 2026-01-14 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

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 HB 527.

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.