VA Legislation

As of 2/1/26.  Below list is NOT meant to be complete list of all legislation pending.  To search for status fo bills moving through the legislature use https://lis.virginia.gov/home.

ICE / IMMIGRATION RELATED

Key legislative proposals introduced for the 2026 session include:

• • SB 351, SB 352, and SB 783: These bills are designed to curb ICE abuses in Virginia. They include measures to require state and local law enforcement to report if a federal immigration officer was present during a stop and if that officer violated state law. (SB351, SB352, SB783)

  • HB 1459 (Ice-Free Communities Act): This bill focuses on regulating how local law enforcement notifies federal immigration authorities about the release of certain individuals from custody. (HB1459 )

  • Anti-Masking Legislation (HB 7 / "Unmask ICE" Bill): This bill will prohibit federal, state, and local law enforcement from wearing masks or facial coverings that conceal their identity while performing official duties. This is aimed at improving accountability for officers involved in raids. (HB7)

  • HB 1438 (End 287G Now): Prohibits a state agency or a law-enforcement agency from entering into a written agreement authorizing any employee or law-enforcement officer to perform a function of a federal immigration officer. (HB1438)

  • Limiting Sensitive Location Actions: Legislation is being crafted to restrict immigration arrests in and around schools, hospitals, and churches. 

Contextual Actions:

• • Executive Action: On January 17, 2026, Governor Abigail Spanberger rescinded a 2025 executive order that had authorized Virginia State Police to enter 287(g) agreements with ICE, effectively ending that collaboration.

  • Legal Challenges: Proposals are also being considered to make it easier to take civil action against law enforcement officers involved in questionable immigration enforcement activities (HB1314). 

These measures are part of a broader effort by Virginia Democrats to create "sanctuary" or "welcoming" policies, reducing the cooperation between local, state, and federal immigration officials. 

DATA CENTER REFORM

Key legislative proposals introduced for the 2026 session include:

• HB 155 / SB 619 (Data Center Siting and Impact): These bills require evaluation of data center impacts on grid capacity, energy costs for residents, and environmental factors before approval.

• SB 552 (Oversight and Planning): Focuses on tightening regulations for the construction and expansion of large data centers to address community and environmental impacts.

• HB 507, HB 511, HB 531 (Environmental/Zoning): Proposed legislation addressing air monitoring for backup generators, industrial zoning, and other environmental impacts.

• SB 94 (Industrial Classification): Seeks to classify modern, AI-focused data centers as industrial, potentially restricting their placement near residential areas. 

AFFORDABILITY

Here are the key Virginia bills related to affordability in 2026:

Housing Affordability & Supply

• HB1279 & "Yes in God's Backyard" (YIGBY): Allows faith-based institutions or nonprofits to build affordable housing on their land.

• HB262 & SB74: Aims to reduce housing costs by limiting minimum parking mandates for new developments and allowing for higher density/smaller units.

• HB143: Requires the state to inventory surplus property and offer it for affordable housing development.

• SB367: Facilitates faster development approval for projects with at least 60% affordable housing units.

• Preservation (HB4): Creates a framework for localities to exercise a right of first refusal to preserve existing affordable housing. 

Tenant Protections & Cost of Living

• SB812: Extends the landlord grace period for late rent from 5 days to 14 days to prevent evictions.

• 17-Bill Plan: A comprehensive, multi-issue plan targeting the high cost of living, including housing, healthcare, and energy, according to this YouTube video. 

Energy Affordability

• HB2 (Delegate Carr): Requires utility companies to create programs to shift low-income customers to high-efficiency electric heat pumps.

• HB3/SB5: Establishes a task force to improve energy efficiency and lower utility costs for low-income residents.

• HB672: Protects against increased energy costs stemming from the removal of federal appliance efficiency standards. 

These proposals are part of a broader push to address the high cost of living, with many bills focusing on increasing the overall supply of affordable units through rezoning, building on surplus land, and strengthening, according to this Virginia Mercury article.