Virginia Legislative Analysis

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.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (Democrat)
• Voted 15-6 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities. Provides that if a condition exists in a dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not remedied within a reasonable time frame, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of a tenant or occupant of the premises, a locality may institute an action on behalf of any tenant or occupant of the premises who is injured by such material noncompliance for injunction and damages to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the premises where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the premises, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Marcia Price (Democrat)
• Voted 17-4 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies; noncompliance with rental agreement; mandatory waiting period. Increases the mandatory waiting period for a landlord to pursue remedies for termination of the rental agreement from five days to 14 days. The waiting period begins after a landlord serves written notice on a tenant notifying the tenant of his nonpayment of rent and of the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Marcia Price (Democrat)
• Voted 15-6 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Overtime for certain employees; domestic workers. Adds domestic workers, as defined in the bill, to provisions related to overtime pay. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Rozia Henson (Democrat)
• Voted 15-7 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; duties; Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee; appointment of members. Requires the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to appoint two additional members of the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee: an employee of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services who specializes in recovery and treatment services and a representative from the Virginia State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Paul Krizek (Democrat)
• Voted 22-0 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Duty of settlement agent; restrictive covenants. Requires a settlement agent to notify the purchaser of any residential real property of the purchaser's right to remove a restrictive covenant contained in an instrument affecting the title of the property disclosed as the result of the title search performed pursuant to the real estate transaction.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Marcus Simon (Democrat)
• Voted 21-0 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Phase I and Phase II Utilities; energy efficiency upgrades; low-income residents; report. States that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to reduce, wherever feasible and cost-effective, heating-related costs of living for low-income residents. The bill requires Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power to make best, reasonable efforts to provide by December 31, 2031, prescriptive efficiency measures, as defined in the bill, and related efficiency improvements to at least 30 percent of the qualifying households, as defined in the bill, identified by such utilities, provided that the State Corporation Commission determines that such measures and improvements are in the public interest. The bill requires such utilities to report to the Commission its activities, plans, and filings regarding the bill's provisions no later than January 1, 2028, annually thereafter, and in any recurring filing that the Commission deems appropriate.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Mark Sickles (Democrat)
• Voted 65-30 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Department of Housing and Community Development; Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force established; report.Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, and with assistance from the Department of Social Services, the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to determine barriers to access and enrollment in the current energy efficiency programs for income-qualified energy customers and to evaluate and develop a plan to address any necessary improvements regarding coordination among state and federal government agencies for utility services and resources to more effectively deliver energy-efficient housing, weatherization resources, and energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least six times between July 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027, and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations no later than September 30, 2027. The bill specifies that such report shall include policy recommendations and a plan to ensure that weatherization-ready repairs and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits are provided to all eligible income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth residing in multifamily buildings, single-family dwellings, and manufactured homes by December 31, 2034.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democrat)
• Voted 78-18 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Contraception; right to contraception; applicability; enforcement. Establishes a right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, as such terms are defined in the bill. The bill clarifies that none of its provisions shall be construed to permit or sanction the performance of any sterilization procedure without a patient's voluntary and informed consent. The bill creates a cause of action that may be instituted against anyone who infringes on such right.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Marcia Price (Democrat)
• Voted 65-32 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action

Railroad safety; minimum train crew; movement of freight; civil penalties. Requires a crew of at least two qualified individuals on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used in connection with moving freight. The bill requires a railroad company that violates its provisions to pay certain fines for first, second, and third or subsequent violations within three years.

Key Points

• Sponsored by Bonita Anthony (Democrat)
• Voted 65-31 in the House
• Review the full bill text for complete details before taking action