HB 735 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Agritourism purposes; Bd. of HCD to review regulations for temporary tents.

Summary

Board of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code; temporary tents used for agritourism purposes. Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development to review the relevant regulations of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code and consider amending such regulations to allow temporary tents used for agritourism purposes to remain in place for up to 12 months on a single site. This bill is identical to SB 132.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Housing/Consumer Protection Subcommittee Substitute → Chaptered · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was approved and transitioned from a House substitute version to a Chaptered Act, meaning it is now official law. The core policy remains unchanged: it directs the Board of Housing and Community Development to review fire safety regulations to allow temporary tents for agritourism to stay on a single site for up to 12 months.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to apply to temporary tents used for agritourism purposes in Virginia.

TIMELINE

The bill is now officially enacted as Chapter 416, approved on April 8, 2026, moving it from a proposed substitute bill to a finalized law.

TECHNICAL

Removed draft metadata including the session year, bill number, amendment type, and the original sponsor's name.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 39

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic20

18 Yea 2

90% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 416 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB735ER)

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (87-Y 8-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from General Laws with substitute (20-Y 1-N)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on General Laws

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors