Real property tax; local classification or designation for property, nonprofit organizations.
Summary
Real property tax; local classification or designation for portion of property. Clarifies that, in accordance with the Constitution of Virginia and by adoption of a local ordinance, any locality may by designation or classification exempt from real or personal property taxes, or both, the real or personal property, or both, owned by an ownership entity of which a controlling interest of the managing member or general partner of such ownership entity is held, directly or indirectly, by one or more nonprofit organizations, notwithstanding any for-profit ownership interests, that is used for charitable or benevolent purposes. The bill requires such local ordinance to stipulate any suspension or termination of such exemption in such ordinance.The bill also provides that any rental income or other sources of income received from any portion of real property that is used for charitable or benevolent purposes in accordance with such constitutional designation or classification shall not be considered a source of revenue or profit for which tax shall be assessed. Finally, the bill provides that the purpose of the bill is to stimulate public purpose projects by clarifying that localities have such authority and provides that the provisions of the bill providing that any county, city, or town may exempt from real or personal property taxes, or both, any real or personal property owned by an ownership entity of which a controlling interest of the managing member or general partner of such ownership entity is held directly or indirectly by one or more nonprofit organizations, notwithstanding any for-profit ownership interests, that is used for charitable or benevolent purposes are declaratory of existing law.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons
What changed between versions
Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Substitute
→
Finance and Appropriations Substitute
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was moved from the House to the Senate and updated with a new proposal date. The most significant change clarifies that rental income from property used for charitable purposes is only exempt if that specific use falls under a particular category in the law, rather than the broader section previously cited. Additionally, the rules for suspending tax exemptions were tightened to specifically apply only to affordable housing entities.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on real property tax exemptions for nonprofit and affordable housing organizations, but the criteria for maintaining those exemptions have been narrowed.
ELIGIBILITY
Updated the legal reference for exempt rental income to point to a specific subdivision regarding charitable use, rather than the entire section.
REQUIREMENT
Restricted the requirement to specify suspension or termination procedures in local ordinances to apply only to affordable housing entities, removing this requirement for other exempt organizations.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill header to reflect Senate sponsorship and changed the proposal date to March 3, 2026.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 3, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 683 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB854ER)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Finance with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Rae Cousins
DDemocratic
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