Counties, Cities and Towns Committee Agenda

Chair: Helmer, Dan

Meeting Date & Time: 02/27/2026 09:00 AM Add to Calendar

Location: House Committee Room B - 205

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Additional Resource(s):

Active item: Meeting Adjourned

Video: Archived

Committee Clerk: Karen Glasco (804) 698-1941

DLS Staff: Jeff Sharp (804) 698 - 1864

Block 1 - Patrons do not need to attend meeting.

Bill(s) Patron Title
SB116 Lucas Zoning; special exceptions for City of Portsmouth.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, relating to zoning; special exceptions; City of Portsmouth.

Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 2/3/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/3/2026 - Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
  • 2/18/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/26/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/27/2026 - Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 1/20/2026 - Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

• 1/20/2026 - Passed by for the day

• 1/21/2026 - Read second time

• 1/21/2026 - Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

• 1/22/2026 - Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

Related Bills:

HB679 (Hayes)

SB328 Perry Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership and workforce housing alternatives.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-958.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to housing for local employees; grants for homeownership.

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (15-Y 6-N)

Yeas (15): Helmer, Sewell, Shin, Simonds, Askew, Cohen, Martinez, Keys-Gamarra, Downey, Nivar, Thornton, Anderson, Cole, N.T., Franklin, M.A., McGuire

Nays (6): Morefield, Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata, McLaughlin

Last actions:

  • 2/18/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/20/2026 - Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
  • 2/26/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/27/2026 - Reconsidered by Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (15-Y 6-N)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/3/2026 - Passed by for the day

• 2/3/2026 - Passed by for the day

• 2/4/2026 - Read second time

• 2/4/2026 - Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

• 2/5/2026 - Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 14-N 1-A)

Related Bills:

HB1061 (Martinez)

Block 2 - Patrons required to attend meeting.

Bill(s) Patron Title
SB334 Roem Conveyances of interests in real property; public hearing required.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-1800, 15.2-1813, and 15.2-2109 of the Code of Virginia, relating to conveyances of interests in real property; public hearing required.

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 5-N)

Yeas (16): Helmer, Sewell, Shin, Simonds, Askew, Cohen, Martinez, Keys-Gamarra, Downey, Nivar, Thornton, Anderson, Cole, N.T., Franklin, M.A., McGuire, Morefield

Nays (5): Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata, McLaughlin

Last actions:

  • 2/26/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 5-N)
  • 2/27/2026 - Referred to Committee on Appropriations
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/16/2026 - Read second time

• 2/16/2026 - Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

• 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

• 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

• 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)

SB454 VanValkenburg Zoning; by-right multifamily residential development.

Summary: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2286.2, relating to zoning; by-right multifamily development.

Fiscal Impact

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (11-Y 10-N)

Yeas (11): Helmer, Simonds, Askew, Cohen, Keys-Gamarra, Downey, Nivar, Thornton, Anderson, Morefield, McLaughlin

Nays (10): Sewell, Shin, Martinez, Cole, N.T., Franklin, M.A., McGuire, Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata

Last actions:

  • 2/12/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/18/2026 - Assigned HCCT sub: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
  • 2/18/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/26/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/26/2026 - House committee offered

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/5/2026 - Rules suspended

• 2/5/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

• 2/5/2026 - Reading of amendments waived

• 2/5/2026 - Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

• 2/5/2026 - Printed as engrossed 26106475D-ES1

Related Bills:

HB816 (Helmer)

SB531 Srinivasan Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units, delayed effective date.

Summary: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2292.3, relating to zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units.

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (13-Y 8-N)

Yeas (13): Helmer, Sewell, Simonds, Askew, Cohen, Martinez, Downey, Nivar, Thornton, Anderson, Cole, N.T., Franklin, M.A., McGuire

Nays (8): Shin, Keys-Gamarra, Morefield, Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata, McLaughlin

Last actions:

  • 2/17/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/17/2026 - Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
  • 2/17/2026 - Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3
  • 2/26/2026 - Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/11/2026 - Read second time

• 2/11/2026 - Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

• 2/11/2026 - Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

• 2/11/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

• 2/12/2026 - Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

Related Bills:

HB611 (Cohen)

SB731 Salim Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections, report.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-947 of the Code of Virginia, relating to private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report.

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)

Yeas (15): Helmer, Sewell, Shin, Simonds, Askew, Cohen, Martinez, Keys-Gamarra, Downey, Nivar, Thornton, Anderson, Cole, N.T., Franklin, M.A., McGuire

Nays (6): Morefield, Hodges, McNamara, Wyatt, Tata, McLaughlin

Last actions:

  • 2/27/2026 - Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)
  • 2/27/2026 - Committee substitute printed 26108776D-H1
  • 2/27/2026 - Referred to Committee on Appropriations
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee
  • 2/27/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/13/2026 - Read second time

• 2/13/2026 - Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

• 2/13/2026 - Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

• 2/13/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

• 2/16/2026 - Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)