An Act to amend and reenact § 36-139 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Housing and Community Development; powers and duties of Director; comprehensive statewide housing needs assessment; review of certain parcels.
HB910 amends § 36-139 of the Code of Virginia to expand and clarify the duties of the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. The bill adds a requirement that the Director conduct a comprehensive statewide housing needs assessment and review certain parcels, while also continuing the Director’s existing responsibilities related to housing policy, community development, building code administration, housing trust fund administration, and coordination of state and federal housing programs.
More broadly, the measure reinforces the Department’s role in collecting housing and development data, identifying housing needs, coordinating housing production, and supporting local governments and other public entities with technical assistance and program administration. It is aimed at improving statewide planning for housing availability and aligning state housing policy with current and future needs, especially for low- and moderate-income residents and communities.
The bill amends the statutory duties of the DHCD Director under § 36-139, adding a statewide housing needs assessment function and parcel review authority to the Department’s portfolio. In practical terms, it strengthens the Department’s role in housing data collection, planning, and oversight, and may affect how state housing programs, local planning efforts, and development-related reviews are coordinated. It does not create a new standalone program, but it broadens the administrative and analytical responsibilities of the agency and may influence future housing policy decisions, land-use coordination, and program implementation affecting local governments, developers, and housing stakeholders.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 703 and approved on April 13, 2026, with no recorded committee transcripts or vote details provided. Based on the bill’s subject matter and enactment, the overall sentiment appears favorable or at least sufficiently supportive to advance without documented opposition in the materials provided. The bill’s focus on housing needs assessment and administrative coordination suggests it was viewed as a policy and planning measure rather than a controversial substantive mandate.
No committee discussion or vote record is included, so specific objections are not documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of contention, based on the bill text, could include the scope of the Director’s authority to review certain parcels, the burden of a statewide housing needs assessment, and whether expanded DHCD responsibilities could affect local control over housing and development decisions. However, the record supplied does not identify any named opponents or disputed provisions.