# Virginia HB1122: Landowners; vested rights.

Virginia HB1122, Landowners; vested rights., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by David A. Reid (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-13 (Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1122-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1122
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Landowners; vested rights.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-02-13, Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: David A. Reid (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Counties, Cities and Towns
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Vested rights. Alters the criteria for determining when a landowner's rights shall be deemed vested in a land use. Under current law, such vesting occurs when the landowner (i) obtains or is the beneficiary of a significant affirmative governmental act that remains in effect allowing development of a specific project, (ii) relies in good faith on the significant affirmative governmental act, and (iii) incurs extensive obligations or substantial expenses in diligent pursuit of the specific project in reliance on the significant affirmative governmental act. The bill provides that vesting in a land use includes the development of a specific project as contemplated by and consistent with a significant affirmative governmental act and any related approvals, conditions, plans, or application materials accepted or approved by the locality, including the right to make minor modifications to such approvals that substantially conform and do not materially alter the character of the development contemplated by the significant affirmative governmental act. The bill further provides that a zoning administrator shall issue a written determination as to whether a proposed change is material or nonmaterial and that if a zoning administrator determines that a proposed change is material, an applicant may appeal the decision pursuant to general law. Finally, the bill narrows the circumstances by which a locality may treat a use as a valid nonconforming use by providing that if a landowner's rights are vested in a land use, that use shall not be rendered nonconforming by subsequent ordinance changes, except where the General Assembly explicitly authorizes retroactive application of new standards to protect public health and safety.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: David A. Reid (Democratic), House

## Actions (7)

- 2026-02-13: Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-06: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-21: Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/21/2026 1:49 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104888D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132137.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087507.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087506.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132137.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087507.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087506.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1122-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).