General Assembly Update
January 23, 2023
In This Issue:

  • Virginia General Assembly convenes in Richmond for 2023 Session; over 170 bills introduced related to the housing industry

  • HBA of Virginia's 2023 Legislative Agenda

  • Governor and General Assembly members introduce state budget amendments related to residential land development and construction
Virginia General Assembly Convenes 2023 Session; Approx. 170 Housing-Related Bills Introduced

The Virginia General Assembly convened in Richmond on January 11 for what will be a 45-day Session, know as the "Short Session".

A total of 2,000 bills have been filed this year, along with numerous amendments to the state budget that impact Virginia's housing industry. The HBA of Virginia government affairs team has been reviewing every bill and budget amendment over the last week, speaking with legislators, and testifying in committees.

Click here to review the bills that impact Virginia's single-family and multi-family housing industry. This list will be updated with the HBA of Virginia's position within the next week; some bills will be added and removed from this list.
HBA of Virginia's 2023 Legislative Agenda

Over the last year, the HBA of Virginia's Legislative Committee and government affairs team has crafted a robust legislative agenda for the 2023 General Assembly Session.

This year's legislative agenda is comprised of 13 pieces of legislation and several budget amendments on a range of topics, including wetland and stream mitigation, workforce development, development review processes, land-use and zoning, historic rehabilitation tax credits, and other more.
Session Resources



VPAP's VaNews (daily email with political and business headlines)

State Budget Update: Housing-Related Budget Amendments Introduced During the 2023 Session

The General Assembly will review nearly 2,000 bills over the next 45 days while also considering countless state budget amendments submitted by the Governor and members of the House and Senate.
 
Virginia’s two-year (biennial) budget affects the housing industry in several ways: it sets funding and staffing levels for important agencies, like the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The state budget is also used to create new programs or policy initiatives for these agencies.
 
The Governor and members of the legislature have submitted a number of budget amendments related to single- and multi-family housing, including:
 
  • Funding to expedite local building department permitting;

  • Additional funding for the Department of Environmental Quality's permit efficiency and accountability platform, established by Director Rolband;

  • Establishing new electric vehicle (EV) building code requirements for multi-family developments;

  • New grants and funds to finance new home construction;

  • Initiating studies to policies and programs that could be used to increase the supply of housing.

Over the next several weeks, House and Senate “Money Committee” members will debate these proposals and work towards a final budget.
Read More


Budget Amendments Submitted by members of the House of Delegates and the State Senate

Presentation to the House Appropriations Committee on the economic conditions and revenue forecasts shaping Virginia's state budget
For additional information about the HBA of Virginia's legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs, Andrew Clark