Image credit: Becca Dedert
It’s the final countdown! Governor Spanberger has until April 13th to sign or veto the bills that have made it to her desk from the Virginia General Assembly. Thanks to your hard work and the dedication of our partners, we have been fortunate to see the majority of measures included in our original housing and transit package make it to this last stage of the legislative process. Help us cross the finish line!
Please send an email to the Governor today, asking her to sign the following bills and support critical transit and housing funding in the budget negotiations. Our form also includes these short summaries:
Transit Funding: We are seeking $211 million for FY27 to ensure frequent, reliable service for Metro, VRE, and 38 local transit providers.
Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF): We are seeking to add $50 million annually to the VHTF for a total of $137.5 million per year, in contrast to the billions spent annually to expand highways.
Faith in Housing – SB 388 / HB 1279: Allows administrative approval for affordable housing on tax-exempt faith-owned land, provided 60% of units meet specific income-eligibility requirements, while preserving local health, safety, and environmental standards.
Inclusionary zoning – SB 74 / HB 867: Empowers localities to use density bonuses and other incentives to make mixed-income housing financially viable for builders.
Parking Reform – HB 888: Reduces housing costs by reducing minimum parking requirements near transit and revitalization zones.
By-Right Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – SB 531: Establishes “by-right” ADUs as an affordable rental and multi-generational living option while preserving local health, safety, and environmental standards.
Expediting Affordable Housing – HB 594: Encourages localities to create streamlined administrative approval processes to reduce the time and cost of building high-density affordable housing.
Right of First Refusal (ROFR) HB 4: Gives localities a cost-effective tool to preserve existing affordable units by having the first opportunity to purchase them before they hit the private market.
Split Land Value Tax – HB 282: Authorizes specific localities to tax land at a higher rate than buildings to encourage urban infill development near existing infrastructure.
Small lot zoning – HB 1212: Requires larger localities to designate at least one zoning district for compact, walkable neighborhoods with smaller lot sizes.
Together, these bills address housing and transit from multiple angles. They have been negotiated amongst a diverse array of stakeholders to ensure their local impact will be targeted but tangible. Email Governor Spanberger to make the final push for this monumental year at the Virginia General Assembly.