Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 278: Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 278 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Primary sponsor: Nadarius Clark (Democratic). It lists 35 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (January 23, 2026): Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote).
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.
Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Provides that any locality may by ordinance adopt anti-rent gouging provisions. The bill provides for notice and a public hearing prior to the adoption of such ordinance and specifies that all landlords who are under the ordinance may be required to give at least 90 days' written notice of a rent increase and cannot increase the rent by more than the locality's calculated allowance, not to exceed three percent, and states that such allowance is effective for a 12-month period beginning July 1 each year. The bill requires the locality to publish such allowance on its website by June 1 of each year. Certain facilities, as outlined in the bill, are exempt from such ordinance. The bill also requires a locality adopting an anti-rent gouging ordinance to establish an anti-rent gouging board to establish rules and procedures by which landlords may apply for and be granted exemptions from the rent increase limits set by the ordinance or delegate such duties and functions to an existing local board, department, or agency. The bill also requires the anti-rent gouging board to establish a fair return on investment rent increase exemption to the annual anti-rent gouging allowance where necessary to offset increased operating expenses. Finally, the bill provides that a locality shall establish a civil penalty for failure to comply with the requirements set out in its ordinance.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 29
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nadarius Clark | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Kimberly Pope Adams | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Bonita Anthony | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 92 |
| Alex Askew | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 95 |
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 39 |
| Destiny LeVere Bolling | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 80 |
| Katrina Callsen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 54 |
| Stacey Annie Carroll | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Laura Jane Cohen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Nicole Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 66 |
| Josh Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 65 |
| Rae Cousins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 79 |
| Mark C. Downey | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Michael Feggans | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 97 |
| Kelly Fowler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 96 |
| Margaret A. Franklin | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jackie Glass | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 93 |
| Liz Guzmán | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 22 |
| Cliff Hayes | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 91 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Patrick Hope | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Michael J. Jones | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Marty Martinez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| Adele McClure | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2 |
| May Nivar | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 57 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Sam Rasoul | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 38 |
| Saddam Salim | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 37 |
| Charlie Schmidt | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Holly Seibold | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Rip Sullivan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| Virgil Thornton | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 86 |
| Kathy Tran | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 18 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
- Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3
- Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105101D