Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 355: 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
SB 355 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Primary sponsor: Jennifer Boysko (Democratic). It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 2, 2026): Continued to next session in Local Government (11-Y 4-N).
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 3
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Boysko | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 38 |
| Lashrecse Aird | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Michael J. Jones | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Saddam Salim | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 37 |
“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 Local Government (11-Y 4-N)
- Referred to Committee on Local Government
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105028D