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Bill > HB352
VA HB352
VA HB352Local authority; authorized by ordinance to establish affordable housing performance grant programs.
summary
Introduced
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
In Committee
01/30/2026
01/30/2026
Crossed Over
01/28/2026
01/28/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Local authority; affordable housing performance grant programs. Allows any locality that has created an industrial development authority or economic development authority (the Authority) to establish, by ordinance, an affordable housing performance grant program. The bill outlines that such ordinance authorizes the Authority to award affordable housing performance grants to qualifying applicants. Such an ordinance must include: (i) a definition of affordable housing; (ii) grant application guidelines and processes, including an identification of the local officer that is designated to receive applications; (iii) criteria for determining whether the construction or improvement of property qualifies for the awarding of the grant; (iv) provisions that require an applicant seeking the award of a grant to acquire appropriate permits and complete the construction or improvement to develop affordable housing before such a grant will be awarded; (v) provisions that require an applicant seeking the award of a grant to present evidence demonstrating that he has filed and recorded a restrictive covenant to provide affordable housing on the property for a set term, as determined by the ordinance, provided that such term shall be no more than 30 years, on the subject qualifying property before such a grant will be awarded; and (vi) a timeline for the Authority to award grants to qualifying applicants, which may be either upon the completion of the construction or improvement of the property, or on January 1 of the year following the completion of the construction or improvement of the property. The bill also limits the total amount of any such grant to being no more than the amount equal to the increase in assessed value resulting from the construction or improvement of a property. Finally, the bill permits a locality that adopts such ordinance to impose a fee, not to exceed $250, to offset the costs of processing an application.
AI Summary
This bill allows any local government that has established an industrial development authority or economic development authority (referred to as "the Authority") to create an affordable housing performance grant program through a local ordinance. This program would enable the Authority to award grants to applicants who undertake qualifying construction or improvement projects to develop affordable housing, which is defined by the locality and must meet state standards. To receive a grant, applicants must obtain necessary permits, complete the construction or improvement, and record a restrictive covenant ensuring the property remains affordable housing for a period of up to 30 years. The grant amount is capped at the increase in the property's assessed value resulting from the project, and localities can charge a fee of up to $250 to cover application processing costs. The bill also clarifies that the Authority can make loans or grants for affordable housing development and can forgive loans if it furthers this purpose.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (5)
Josh Thomas (D)*,
Karen Keys-Gamarra (D),
Destiny LeVere Bolling (D),
Jeremy McPike (D),
Sam Rasoul (D),
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Local Government (on 01/30/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB352 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB352/text/HB352 |
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