HB594Introduced in the House of Delegates
Affordable housing developments, certain; expedited approval.
Introduced by Shelly Simonds, District 70
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Expedited approval for certain affordable housing developments. Allows a locality, by ordinance, to authorize a zoning administrator to use an administrative process to approve rezoning applications for certain affordable housing developments. The bill requires that the affordable housing development comply with the Virginia Fair Housing Law, connect to a public or community water supply or sewage system, and be located within or adjacent to an area identified by the locality that could support increased density development and provide access to services. The bill also requires the locality, prior to the adoption of such ordinance, to advertise its intention to propose such ordinance within a certain period of time in a newspaper having a general circulation in the locality. The bill allows the Department of Housing and Community Development to give a locality priority for any grants or loans administered by the Department if such locality demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that its ordinance has met the provisions of the bill. Finally, the bill requires certain localities that adopt such ordinance to include in their annual local housing policy report to the Department a summary of the ordinance.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0406)
April 8, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (81-Y 15-N 0-A) · March 6, 2026
81
Yes
15
No
3
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104652D
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB594)
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (20-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (89-Y 10-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Senate committee offered
Reported from Local Government with substitute (10-Y 2-N 3-A)
Committee substitute printed 26108916D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Local Government Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (28-Y 12-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (81-Y 15-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB594)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB594ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB594)
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 406 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0406)
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