HB 474 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Real estate with delinquent taxes or liens; apptmt. of special commissioner, increases value.

Summary
Real estate with delinquent taxes or liens; appointment of special commissioner; increases required value. Increases from $75,000 to $125,000 the maximum assessment that an individual parcel of land may be valued at to be subject to a locality's appointment of a special commissioner to convey property with delinquent taxes or liens to the locality, to the locality's land bank entity, or to an existing nonprofit entity designated by the locality to carry out the functions of a land bank entity in lieu of sale at public auction. The bill contains technical amendments.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Virginia law to allow localities to appoint special commissioners to sell properties with delinquent taxes at a lower threshold, increasing the maximum assessed value from $75,000 to $125,000. It also introduces stricter tax delinquency requirements for high-stress areas and clarifies rules for selling only the structure of a home while retaining the land for affordable housing projects.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of properties eligible for expedited sale by localities to include those valued up to $125,000, whereas previously the limit was $75,000.
ELIGIBILITY

Increased the maximum assessed value for properties eligible for special commissioner sale from $75,000 to $125,000.

Adjusted tax delinquency thresholds for high-stress fiscal areas, requiring taxes to exceed 35% of value (previously 50%) or 15% (previously 25%) to qualify for expedited sale.

Raised the assessed value limit for specific affordable housing projects in high-stress areas from $150,000 to $150,000 (no change in number, but context implies expansion of scope via other threshold adjustments).

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that sales of only the structural improvements (not the land) are permissible only if the land is leased to a community land trust with a 90-year term and a formula to ensure perpetual affordability.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 26, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
12
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 151 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB474ER)
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
committee amendments agreed to
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Finance with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sam Rasoul
Sam Rasoul
DDemocratic
VA
38