# Virginia SB74: Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority.

Virginia SB74, Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0436)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB74-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB74
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-12-18
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0436)
- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 11 (273 yes, 154 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia communities get affordable housing tools: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, Virginia localities can amend zoning rules to create affordable housing programs. Programs must address housing needs, offer varied housing choices, support older residents' independent living, and encourage moderately priced homes. Localities can allow more homes per acre t…
- Older local housing rules stay protected: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, the law's changes do not apply to local ordinances adopted before January 1, 2026. It also preserves ordinances adopted before December 31, 1988, that allow optional density increases for low- and moderate-income housing. Those older rules remain fully in effect. Household e…
- Residents get input on housing programs: benefit, low. Localities adopting affordable housing ordinances on or after July 1, 2027, must create an advisory committee before developing and adopting programs. They must actively seek input from residents, low- and moderate-income household representatives, and residential and mixed-use developers. Input mu…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 65 | 32 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Senate acceded to request | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 39 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 65 | 33 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 16 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Local Government Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with amendments | pass | 8 | 7 |   |

## Actions (42)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0436) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 436 (effective 7/1/2027) (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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB74ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 32-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Conference Report released
- 2026-02-24: House Conferees: Cousins, Askew, Morefield (House)
- 2026-02-24: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-02-23: Senate acceded to request (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Senate Conferees: McPike, Aird, Hackworth (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-02-19: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-02-18: House substitute rejected by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Passed House with substitute (65-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-15: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107961D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-13: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-13: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (16-Y 5-N) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-10: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Local Government Amendments agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Senate committee amendments offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Reported from Local Government with amendments (8-Y 7-N) (Senate)
- 2025-12-18: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-12-18: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100873D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217854.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217853.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213331.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213330.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205544.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146597.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145873.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145872.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146596.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116014.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116013.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108692.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105658.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-12-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081947.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081946.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/1217854.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217853.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213331.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213330.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205544.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146597.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145873.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145872.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146596.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116014.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116013.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108692.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105658.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081947.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081946.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-SB74-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).