Housing

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 74: Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority.

Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority. Authorizes any locality in the Commonwealth to provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program by amending the zoning ordinance of such locality. Current law restricts such authorization to counties with an urban county executive form of government or county manager plan of government and certain other localities. In addition to optional increases in density, the bill provides that such program may include certain additional implementation measures including lot size reductions and accessory housing unit allowances. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027, and is identical to HB 867.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill removes restrictions on localities creating affordable housing programs via zoning, directly advancing affordable housing development by expanding access to more jurisdictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 39: Duty of settlement agent; restrictive covenants.

Duty of settlement agent; restrictive covenants. Requires a settlement agent to notify the purchaser of any residential real property of the purchaser's right to remove a prohibited restrictive covenant that is contained in an instrument affecting the title of the property and disclosed as the result of the title search performed pursuant to the real estate transaction.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables removal of restrictive covenants that may limit housing development options, promoting flexibility in residential property use and addressing potential barriers to housing development.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 15: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies; noncompliance with rental agreement; mandatory waiting period. Increases the mandatory waiting period for a landlord to pursue remedies for termination of the rental agreement from five days to 14 days. The waiting period begins after a landlord serves written notice on a tenant notifying the tenant of his nonpayment of rent and of the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid. This bill is identical to SB 48.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends tenant protection by increasing landlord waiting period from 5 to 14 days before eviction for nonpayment, strengthening tenant rights under rental agreements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 4: Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty.

Preservation of affordable housing; definitions; civil penalty. Creates a framework for localities to preserve affordable housing by exercising a right of first refusal on publicly supported housing, defined in the bill. The bill authorizes localities to adopt an ordinance that requires an owner to accept a right of first refusal offer by the locality or qualified designee, defined in the bill, in order to preserve affordable housing for at least 15 years. The bill requires that any locality with a population greater than 3,500 adopting such an ordinance to preserve affordable housing submit an annual report to the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to existing law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates right of first refusal for localities to preserve affordable housing for 15+ years, directly protecting existing affordable units from conversion.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 328: Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership.

Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership and workforce housing alternatives. Eliminates the maximum amount a locality may provide (i) to employees of the locality, employees of the school board, and employees of constitutional officers for homeownership grants to purchase primary residences in the locality and (ii) to school division personnel for residential housing assistance grants to provide affordable workforce housing alternatives. The bill also eliminates the requirement that such grants adhere to the Virginia Housing and Development Authority regional sales price and household income limitation guidelines. Current law imposes a maximum grant amount of $25,000 for individual grants per employee, as well as a maximum lifetime cumulative amount of $25,000 per employee. This bill is identical to HB 164.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates spending caps on local housing grants, increasing budget allocation for workforce housing programs without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides housing grants for school division personnel (teachers), directly supporting educators' housing affordability per topic's 'teachers' inclusion.80% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEliminates funding caps for local employee homeownership grants and workforce housing alternatives, directly advancing affordable housing access for workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEliminates caps on housing grants for local employees/school personnel, directly advancing workforce housing affordability as a labor support measure.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 770: Public utilities; water and sewerage companies, discounted rates for low-income customers.

Public utilities; water and sewerage companies; discounted rates for low-income customers. Provides that a public utility engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities may propose and the State Corporation Commission may approve rates and tariff provisions that provide discounted service to customers with an annual household income equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill permits the utility to recover the costs of providing such discounted service through its rates for commercial and industrial customers. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to SB 650.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingDiscounts utility rates for low-income households (80% median income), reducing housing cost burdens and supporting affordability as defined in topic.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 527: Eviction Reduction Program; established, report.

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 SB 628.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Eviction Reduction Program to prevent evictions, promote housing stability, and protect tenants - directly advancing tenant protections and housing stability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 174: Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; early termination of rental agreement by military personnel.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant remedies; early termination of rental agreement by military personnel. Removes the requirement that military personnel terminating a rental agreement due to identified permissible circumstances shall provide the landlord with a termination date that is no more than 60 days prior to the date of departure necessary to comply with the official orders or any supplemental instructions for interim training or duty prior to the transfer.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves 60-day termination requirement for military tenants, strengthening tenant protections under housing law.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 837: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Program, eligibility.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Program; eligibility. Requires any general district court that implements the Eviction Diversion Program to attach information about the Program, including eligibility criteria, to any summons for unlawful detainer. The bill also alters eligibility requirements for a tenant to participate in the Program. This bill is identical to SB 273.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands tenant access to eviction diversion program by altering eligibility and requiring court-provided program info, strengthening tenant protections against eviction.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 650: Public utilities; water and sewerage companies, discounted rates for low-income customers.

Public utilities; water and sewerage companies; discounted rates for low-income customers. Provides that a public utility engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities may propose and the State Corporation Commission may approve rates and tariff provisions that provide discounted service to customers with an annual household income equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill permits the utility to recover the costs of providing such discounted service through its rates for commercial and industrial customers. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to HB 770.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides discounted utility rates for low-income households (80% median income), directly increasing housing affordability by reducing essential living costs for vulnerable residents.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing