HB4Introduced in the House of Delegates
Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty.
Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, District 5
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0352)
April 8, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) · March 10, 2026
21
Yes
19
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100154D
Referred to Committee on General Laws
Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from General Laws (15-Y 6-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing
Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day
Read third time
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB4ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 352 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0352)
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