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CCT Subcommittee #3

Friday, January 23, 2026·2h 4m·▶ Watch / Listen

CCT Subcommittee #3 heard ten bills spanning rent stabilization, data center water transparency, subdivision law, transportation impact fees, and electoral district reform. The subcommittee continued the high-profile anti-rent-gouging bill HB 278 to 2027, passed by indefinitely the transportation impact fee bill HB 536 by a 6-0 margin, and advanced the data center water disclosure bill HB 496 and the Virginia Beach district-election bill HB 168, each by 6-1 margins.

Key Actions

·HB 278 – Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penaltyNo Vote

+ 7 more actions

Controversies

Rent stabilization (HB 278): supply vs. tenant protection

Delegate Clark and more than 20 supporting witnesses argued that supply alone will not solve the affordability crisis and that Montgomery County, Maryland saw a 69% decrease in severe housing code violations after implementing similar legislation. D.J. Spiker (Virginia Realtors), Bisma Med [UNCLEAR spelling] (Apartment and Office Building Association), Andrew Clark (Home Builders Association), and Chris Brew (Donahoe Companies) countered that the same Montgomery County saw new multifamily housing investment decrease by 96% since rent control passed in 2023, and that the Montgomery County council is now considering a full repeal of the law.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“I'm proud to say that I am a renter and I'm sorry to share that I experienced rent gouging myself just last year. My rent increased 10% while my apartment had black mold, faulty wiring and no retention pond, which created more environmental problems. My rent increased by over $200 in one year in my apartment complex is only 3 years old.”

Delegate Clark (bill sponsor, HB 278) — Delegate Clark opened his presentation of HB 278, the local anti-rent-gouging bill, by describing his personal experience as a renter facing what he characterized as abusive rent increases.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 496 (data center water use disclosures)Passed
No (1)Delegate Shin (stated intent)
Pass by indefinitely HB 536 (transportation impact fees)Passed
Report HB 168 with substitute (city governing body election by districts)Passed
Lay on table HB 535 (planning commission designated agent threshold)No Vote
Report HB 723 (subdivision of property; sale and transfer)No Vote
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TranscriptPreview
There's many county cities and towns. Subcommittee number three will come to order. We'll go at east. Media, county cities of town. Subcommittee number three will come to order. We have but so much time this morning before we go to the floor. So we're going to move fast and promptly. What we're going to do is there's a lot of folks to speak to a lot of bills this morning. So there's going to be five minutes per side, both in person and online. So if you coordinate and talk to some folks, if you are speaking for against the same issue, please keep the brief because brevity is going to be key. As I said, what we're going to do is start with some admin business first. On the docket we have Hospital 708. That's Delegate Thomas. We were going to move distract the bill and do I have a motion move. We have a move of the property. Second. That is a recorded vote. So actually we're going to take roll. Madam Clerk, can you please close the roll? Thank you. All right, so we have a motion and a proper second to strike. House Bill 708.…
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