# Virginia HB1394: Loitering; unhoused persons.

Virginia HB1394, Loitering; unhoused persons., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua G. Cole (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-06 (Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1394-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1394
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Loitering; unhoused persons.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-02-06, Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Subcommittee #3
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Loitering; unhoused persons. Prohibits any locality from discriminating against any person on the basis of actual or perceived unhoused status by imposing a civil or criminal penalty against any unhoused person, defined in the bill, of any age for engaging in life-sustaining activities in or upon any public place, including in a legally parked car in a public place, provided that such activities do not obstruct the movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in a manner that creates a hazard to others. Life-sustaining activities include sleeping, resting, sitting, standing, lying down, or protecting oneself from the elements.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

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

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-06: Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-05: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-22: Presented and ordered printed 26103925D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127938.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127941.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093524.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093523.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/1127938.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127941.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093524.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093523.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1394-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).