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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 1279: Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.

Passed both chambers Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 1279 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. Primary sponsor: Josh Cole (Democratic). It lists 10 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Governor's recommendation received by House.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 11

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Josh ColePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse65
Destiny LeVere BollingCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse80
Nicole ColeCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse66
Rae CousinsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse79
Patrick HopeCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse1
Karen Keys-GamarraCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse7
Adele McClureCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse2
Irene ShinCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse8
Shelly SimondsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse70
Virgil ThorntonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse86
Kathy TranCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse18

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Governor's recommendation received by House
  2. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  3. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
  4. Signed by Speaker
  5. Signed by President
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1279ER)
  7. Enrolled
  8. Conference report agreed to by House (54-Y 41-N 0-A)
  9. Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)
  10. Conference Report released
  11. Senate Conferees: McPike, Aird, Reeves
  12. Conferees appointed by Senate

Showing 12 most recent of 39 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source