HB1279
Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
House: Conference report agreed to by House (54-Y 41-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Joshua Cole (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. 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 for all purposes shall allow the by-right development and construction of housing on real property owned by such organizations. The ... (More) bill requires that the implementation and approval of such developments be completed administratively 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 50 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 September 1, 2027. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/14/2026 - House: Presented and ordered printed 26104765D
- 01/14/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
- 01/28/2026 - House: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
- 01/28/2026 - House: Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
- 01/29/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
- 01/30/2026 - House: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (13-Y 8-N)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/04/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/04/2026 - House: committee amendments agreed to
- 02/04/2026 - House: Engrossed by House as amended
- 02/05/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (60-Y 36-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Local Government
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26109006D-S1
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Local Government Substitute agreed to
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 17-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/06/2026 - House: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 95-N 0-A)
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Senate requested conference committee
- 03/11/2026 - House: House acceded to request
- 03/11/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/11/2026 - House: House Conferees:Cole, J.G., Helmer, Morefield
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: McPike, Aird, Reeves
- 03/13/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/13/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (54-Y 41-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
