An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 35.1 a section numbered 35.1-29, relating to hotel policies; denial of guests residing within certain distance prohibited in certain instances.
HB790 adds a new section to Title 35.1 of the Code of Virginia governing hotel policies. The bill prohibits a hotel from enforcing a policy that denies a guest the ability to stay solely because the guest’s primary residence is within a certain distance of the hotel, when the guest is seeking lodging for health or safety reasons. In practical terms, the measure is aimed at preventing hotels from turning away nearby residents who need temporary shelter due to an emergency, unsafe conditions, or similar circumstances.
The bill also preserves hotel discretion in other circumstances. It expressly allows hotels to maintain policies designed to protect the health and safety of guests or employees, or to serve other legitimate business purposes, so long as those policies comply with the Virginia Human Rights Act. The legislation therefore creates a targeted limitation on distance-based denial policies rather than a broad restriction on hotel operations.
HB790 amends the Virginia Code by creating § 35.1-29 in Chapter 5 of Title 35.1, directly regulating hotel guest admission policies. It limits the ability of hotels to refuse lodging based solely on proximity to the hotel when the stay is for health or safety reasons, while leaving intact lawful policies tied to safety, employee protection, and legitimate business needs under the Virginia Human Rights Act. The affected parties are hotels and similar lodging establishments, as well as nearby residents who may need emergency or temporary accommodations.
The available record shows no committee transcripts or recorded votes, so there is no detailed public debate to assess. Based on the enacted text, the bill appears to have been treated as a narrow consumer- and safety-oriented measure with a limited regulatory impact on hotels. Its final enactment as Chapter 666 suggests the proposal received sufficient support to pass both chambers and become law.
The main potential point of contention is the balance between access to lodging for people facing health or safety emergencies and a hotel’s ability to manage operations, security, and guest welfare. Supporters would likely favor the bill as preventing arbitrary exclusion of local residents in crisis, while opponents or cautious stakeholders might worry about operational burdens or the need to screen for legitimate safety concerns. The bill addresses that tension by allowing hotels to keep policies that are justified by health, safety, or other legitimate business purposes, provided they comply with the Virginia Human Rights Act.