Bill Commons

VA HB 164

enacted

Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 164 pass?

Yes. VA HB 164 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-06): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0078)

What is VA HB 164 about?

Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership and workforce housing alternatives. Eliminates the maximum amount a locality may provide (i) to employees of the locality, employees of the school board, and employees of constitutional officers for homeownership grants to purchase primary residences in the locality and (ii) to school division personnel for residential housing assistance grants to provide affordable workforce housing alternatives. The bill also eliminates the requirement that such grants adhere to the Virginia Housing and Development Authority regional sales price and household income limitation guidelines. Current law imposes a maximum grant amount of $25,000 for individual grants per employee, as well as a maximum lifetime cumulative amount of $25,000 per employee. This bill is identical to SB 328.

Who sponsors VA HB 164?

Joshua E. Thomas is the primary sponsor of VA HB 164, joined by 8 cosponsors.

Description

Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership and workforce housing alternatives. Eliminates the maximum amount a locality may provide (i) to employees of the locality, employees of the school board, and employees of constitutional officers for homeownership grants to purchase primary residences in the locality and (ii) to school division personnel for residential housing assistance grants to provide affordable workforce housing alternatives. The bill also eliminates the requirement that such grants adhere to the Virginia Housing and Development Authority regional sales price and household income limitation guidelines. Current law imposes a maximum grant amount of $25,000 for individual grants per employee, as well as a maximum lifetime cumulative amount of $25,000 per employee. This bill is identical to SB 328.

Introduced
2026-01-06
Latest action
2026-04-06 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0078)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Joshua E. Thomasprimary
  • Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
  • Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
  • Michael B. Fegganscosponsor
  • Atoosa R. Reasercosponsor
  • Katrina Callsencosponsor
  • Marty Martinezcosponsor
  • Dan I. Helmercosponsor
  • Laura Jane Cohencosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-06

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0078)

  2. 2026-04-06

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 78 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-14

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  5. 2026-03-12

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  6. 2026-03-11

    Signed by President

    passage

  7. 2026-03-11

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB164ER)

    passage

  8. 2026-03-11

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  9. 2026-03-04

    Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A)

    passage

  10. 2026-03-04

    Read third time

    reading-3

  11. 2026-03-03

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  12. 2026-03-03

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-03

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-03-02

    Reported from Local Government (7-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  15. 2026-01-30

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-01-30

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. 2026-01-29

    Read third time and passed House (65-Y 32-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  18. 2026-01-28

    Engrossed by House as amended

  19. 2026-01-28

    committee amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  20. 2026-01-28

    Read second time

    reading-2

  21. 2026-01-27

    Read first time

    reading-1

  22. 2026-01-23

    Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (16-Y 4-N)

    committee-passage

  23. 2026-01-22

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N)

  24. 2026-01-22

    House subcommittee offered

  25. 2026-01-20

    Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2

    referral-committee

  26. 2026-01-06

    Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

    referral-committee

  27. 2026-01-06

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102981D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

    2026-01-22 · pass · 8-0

    Member-level votes (8)
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes

  • Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s)

    2026-01-23 · pass · 16-4

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Marty Martinez: not voting
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no

  • H VOTE:

    2026-01-29 · pass · 65-32

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: not voting
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: not voting
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Local Government

    2026-03-02 · pass · 7-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: not voting
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: not voting
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-03 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-04 · pass · 25-15

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB164

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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