# Virginia HB1279: Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.

Virginia HB1279, Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua G. Cole (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1279-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1279
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 14 (350 yes, 276 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. Allows for the administrative approval of development and construction of housing on land owned by property tax-exempt religious organizations or certain property tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and provides that zoning ordinances shall allow the by-right development and construction of housing on real property owned by such organizations, subject to various conditions and limitations. The bill provides that the review of such developments be completed pursuant to general law and states that localities shall not require a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, rezoning, or any discretionary review or approval process. The bill requires that at least 60 percent of the housing development's total units be for affordable housing and that the housing development remain affordable for at least 30 years. The bill also provides that all such housing is subject to local real property taxation following completion, unless explicitly exempted by the locality. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and expires on January 1, 2031. This bill is identical to SB 388.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Easier nonprofit housing approvals, with limits: mixed, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia localities with zoning rules must allow qualifying residential and mixed-use projects without rezoning or discretionary approval. This approval path expires January 1, 2031. A tax-exempt religious organization or tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit must have owned the…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 62 | 38 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 23 | 16 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 54 | 41 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 23 | 16 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 95 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Local Government Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 60 | 36 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) | pass | 13 | 8 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 5 | 3 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (62-Y 38-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1096) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB1279ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1096 (Effective 1/1/2027) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1279ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (54-Y 41-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: McPike, Aird, Reeves (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: House Conferees:Cole, J.G., Helmer, Morefield (House)
- 2026-03-11: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-11: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-10: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 95-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Committee substitute printed 26109006D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (60-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-04: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (13-Y 8-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-14: Presented and ordered printed 26104765D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225333.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225332.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220024.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220023.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219519.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214366.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214365.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210830.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189580.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189579.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105476.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105475.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104693.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102029.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088000.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087999.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225333.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225332.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220024.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220023.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219519.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214366.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214365.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210830.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189580.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189579.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105476.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105475.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104693.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102029.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088000.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087999.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1279-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).