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Bill

HB 1252

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; algorithmic pricing device use by certain landlords.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bonita Anthony

Virginia bill would regulate landlords' use of automated pricing software for rental rates, requiring compliance standards under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Continued to next session in General Laws (Voice Vote)
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Bill Summary · HB 1252

Legislative bill overview

HB 1252 would regulate landlords' use of algorithmic pricing devices—software that automatically sets rental prices based on data analysis—under Virginia's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The bill appears designed to establish transparency and fairness standards for how landlords use automated pricing tools when setting or adjusting rents.

Why is this important

Algorithmic pricing in rental markets has grown significantly, with concerns that automated systems may perpetuate discrimination, reduce transparency in pricing decisions, or unfairly surge rents beyond market norms. This bill addresses whether and how landlords can legally deploy such technology, affecting both tenant affordability and landlord business practices across Virginia's rental market.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining scope: The bill's specific restrictions on algorithmic pricing devices remain unclear from available summaries—it could range from minimal disclosure requirements to substantial operational limitations on landlords' pricing flexibility.
  • Enforcement and compliance costs: Determining how violations would be enforced, what penalties apply, and whether compliance burdens disproportionately affect small landlords versus large corporations.
  • Competition concerns: Whether restrictions might reduce price optimization that could otherwise benefit the market, or conversely, whether they're necessary to prevent anti-competitive price-fixing patterns enabled by shared algorithms.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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