Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 4: Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 4 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on November 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty. Primary sponsor: Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (Democratic). It lists 29 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 8, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0352).
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.
Preservation of affordable housing; definitions; civil penalty. Creates a framework for localities to preserve affordable housing by exercising a right of first refusal on publicly supported housing, defined in the bill. The bill authorizes localities to adopt an ordinance that requires an owner to accept a right of first refusal offer by the locality or qualified designee, defined in the bill, in order to preserve affordable housing for at least 15 years. The bill requires that any locality with a population greater than 3,500 adopting such an ordinance to preserve affordable housing submit an annual report to the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to existing law.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 22
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 39 |
| Kimberly Pope Adams | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Destiny LeVere Bolling | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 80 |
| Gretchen M. Bulova | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Katrina Callsen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 54 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Laura Jane Cohen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| 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) | — | — |
| Lily V. Franklin | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Debra Gardner | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 76 |
| Jackie Glass | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 93 |
| Liz Guzmán | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 22 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| 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 |
| Garrett McGuire | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17 |
| Leslie Chambers Mehta | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| May Nivar | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 57 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Atoosa Reaser | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 27 |
| Briana Sewell | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Rip Sullivan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| 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
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0352)
- Approved by Governor-Chapter 352 (effective 7/1/2026)
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
- Signed by Speaker
- Signed by President
- Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB4ER)
- Enrolled
- Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
- Read third time
- Passed by for the day
- Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Showing 12 most recent of 26 actions. Full history