VirginiaHB5942026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Affordable housing developments, certain; expedited approval.

Sponsored By: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Expedited approval for certain affordable housing developments. Allows a locality, by ordinance, to authorize a zoning administrator to use an administrative process to approve rezoning applications for certain affordable housing developments. The bill requires that the affordable housing development comply with the Virginia Fair Housing Law, connect to a public or community water supply or sewage system, and be located within or adjacent to an area identified by the locality that could support increased density development and provide access to services. The bill also requires the locality, prior to the adoption of such ordinance, to advertise its intention to propose such ordinance within a certain period of time in a newspaper having a general circulation in the locality. The bill allows the Department of Housing and Community Development to give a locality priority for any grants or loans administered by the Department if such locality demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that its ordinance has met the provisions of the bill. Finally, the bill requires certain localities that adopt such ordinance to include in their annual local housing policy report to the Department a summary of the ordinance.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster approvals for affordable housing projects

Localities can set an administrative process to rezone qualifying affordable housing projects. At least 75% of units must be affordable, and projects must follow Virginia fair housing rules. Projects must connect to a public or community water or sewer system and sit in or next to an area the locality marks for added density and services. The ordinance must set minimum units per acre, a max lot size, and height rules, and require yearly reporting on permits and units built.

State grant priority for adopting localities

The state housing department may give priority for its grants or loans to localities that adopt the expedited affordable housing ordinance. The locality must show its ordinance meets the law’s requirements. The law does not set award amounts; the department decides who gets priority.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Shelly A. Simonds

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 276 • No: 39

House vote 3/6/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 81 • No: 15

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Local Government Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 28 • No: 12

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Local Government with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 2 • Other: 3

House vote 1/29/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 89 • No: 10

House vote 1/23/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

Yes: 20 • No: 0

House vote 1/22/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0406)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 406 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB594)

    3/13/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB594ER)

    3/13/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/13/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB594)

    3/6/2026House
  11. Senate substitute agreed to by House (81-Y 15-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026House
  12. Passed Senate with substitute (28-Y 12-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Local Government Substitute agreed to

    3/4/2026Senate
  14. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/4/2026Senate
  15. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  16. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  19. Committee substitute printed 26108916D-S1

    3/2/2026Senate
  20. Senate committee offered

    3/2/2026Senate
  21. Reported from Local Government with substitute (10-Y 2-N 3-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  22. Referred to Committee on Local Government

    1/30/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    1/30/2026Senate
  24. Read third time and passed House (89-Y 10-N 0-A)

    1/29/2026House
  25. Read second time and engrossed

    1/28/2026House

Bill Text

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