VA SB 540
enactedUndue influence; presumptions in actions contesting validity of a trust or trust instrument.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did VA SB 540 pass?
Yes. VA SB 540 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-08): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0506)
What is VA SB 540 about?
Undue influence; presumption in actions contesting validity of certain trust or instrument. Provides that, in an action contesting the validity of a trust or trust instrument, where a presumption of undue influence arises, the fact finder shall presume that the undue influence was exerted over the decedent unless evidence leads the fact finder to determine that the decedent did intend for the real or personal property to be conveyed or transferred as indicated. Current law applies this presumption of undue influence only to actions contesting the validity of a will.
Who sponsors VA SB 540?
Mark D. Obenshain is the primary sponsor of VA SB 540.
Description
Undue influence; presumption in actions contesting validity of certain trust or instrument. Provides that, in an action contesting the validity of a trust or trust instrument, where a presumption of undue influence arises, the fact finder shall presume that the undue influence was exerted over the decedent unless evidence leads the fact finder to determine that the decedent did intend for the real or personal property to be conveyed or transferred as indicated. Current law applies this presumption of undue influence only to actions contesting the validity of a will.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-13
- Latest action
- 2026-04-08 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0506)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Mark D. Obenshainprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-04-08
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0506)
2026-04-08
Approved by Governor-Chapter 506 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
2026-03-14
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-03-14
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-12
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-12
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-12
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB540ER)
passage
2026-03-12
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-06
House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
substitution
2026-03-04
Passed House with substitute (67-Y 30-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-04
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
substitution
2026-03-04
committee substitute agreed to
substitution
2026-03-04
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-03
Read second time
reading-2
2026-03-02
Committee substitute printed 26108465D-H1
substitution
2026-03-02
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-23
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 4-N)
substitution
2026-02-19
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
referral-committee
2026-02-19
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
referral-committee
2026-02-19
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-19
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-16
Blank Action
2026-02-16
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-16
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16
Rules suspended
2026-02-16
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-13
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-13
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13
Rules suspended
2026-02-11
Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
referral-committee
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101600D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Reported from Courts of Justice
2026-02-11 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed R
2026-02-13 · pass · 35-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: not voting
- T. Travis Hackworth: not voting
- Christopher T. Head: not voting
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: not voting
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: not voting
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading)
2026-02-16 · pass · 39-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: not voting
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-02-16 · pass · 39-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: not voting
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
2026-02-23 · pass · 6-4
Member-level votes (10)
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: no
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: no
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute
2026-03-02 · pass · 15-7
Member-level votes (22)
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Will Davis: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Justin Pence: no
H VOTE:
2026-03-04 · pass · 67-30
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: no
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: no
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: no
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: no
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: no
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: not voting
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: no
- Garrett McGuire: no
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: yes
- Kirk McPike: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- Eric Phillips: no
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Charlie Schmidt: no
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: not voting
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Concur House Substitute R
2026-03-06 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
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