eNews Action Alert – February 19, 2026
OPPOSE SB454 and SB388 before tomorrow morning (February 20)
Thursday, February 19, 2026/Categories: eNews
OPPOSE BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING!
SB454 erodes local zoning authority; compromises economic development property.
SB388 “faith in housing bill” allows by-right development without local input.
Both bills will be in the full Counties, Cities and Towns Committee at 9:00am tomorrow morning (February 20)
OPPOSE SB454:
SB454 (Van Valkenburg) Zoning; by-right multifamily development. Requires cities and towns over 20,000 in population and all localities within a metropolitan planning area to include in a zoning ordinance the authority for by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses on at least 75% of all land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications and for any zoning district classification permits single-family use by-right.
Reasons to OPPOSE SB454:
- This is a local government mandate that erodes local zoning authority and removes the ability to receive proffers on these parcels.
- This is NOT an affordable housing initiative – the word “affordable” does NOT appear in the bill.
- This proposal does NOT align with the environmental justice goals of the Commonwealth.
- This has the potential to allow prime commercial land to be developed for residential use without the locality having the ability to preserve the land for economic development.
- Proffers are only allowed when a rezoning occurs, so this would prohibit proffers.
- All the capital costs driven by the development (schools, fire stations, roads, parks, etc.) would be transferred to the taxpayers.
Action Requested:
This is a monumental shift in land use – please contact members of the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee (below) and ask them to OPPOSE SB454!
OPPOSE SB388
SB388 (McPike) Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. Requires localities to allow housing by right on religious and certain non-profit property without the benefit of input from the neighbors or consideration of capacity for schools and other government services and infrastructure.
Reasons to OPPOSE SB388:
- This proposal imposes timelines for administrative approval more stringent than for other uses and states that these plans are “deemed approved” if the timelines are not met.
- This is unworkable for localities and potentially violates Virginia Code Section 15.2-2282 which requires that zoning regulations be uniform throughout the district.
- This approval and by right allowance may differ from other properties in the district violating this long-standing code section.
SUPPORT the reenactment clause in HB1279:
HB1279 (Cole) Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. While similar to SB388, this bill has a reenactment clause which means it would need to be voted on again next year. This will allow time to take stock of the impacts.
HB1279 is in the Senate Local Government Committee.
Action Requested:
Contact members of the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee (below) and ask them to OPPOSE SB454!
- Note – VML has created a form letter you can use to communicate with legislators regarding SB388 and HB1279. It is available to Download here >.
House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee Members
VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org