Unlawful detainer; bifurcation of case, contested rent and damages.
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “An Act to amend and reenact § 8.01-128 of the Code of Virginia, relating to unlawful detainer; bifurcation; contested rent and damages.” Read the full text
2026 session
What it does
Unlawful detainer; bifurcation of case; contested rent and damages. Provides that, at an initial hearing on an unlawful detainer, if the defendant contests the amount of rent and damages alleged to be due and owing to the plaintiff, the court shall not bifurcate the unlawful detainer case. Under current law, at the initial hearing, upon request of the plaintiff, the court is required to bifurcate the unlawful detainer case and set a continuance date no later than 120 days from the date of the in
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Introduced · Jan 13, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter 432 (latest official status)
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.
The numbers
3
sponsors on the bill
Sponsors
Rae CousinsKatrina CallsenVirgil Thornton
Recorded votes
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-11 · P · Y 21, N 19
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-10 · P · Y 40
Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N)Senate · 2026-03-09 · P · Y 9, N 6
Read third time and passed House (74-Y 23-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-17 · P · Y 74, N 23, X 3
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-11 · P · Y 22
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-04 · P · Y 10
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Virginia legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter 432.