In Rocky Mount, Governor Spanberger Signs Bipartisan Bills to Lower Housing Costs, Support Increased Homeownership

ROCKY MOUNT, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger yesterday signed a series of bipartisan bills to address the rising cost of housing, increase the supply of housing that Virginians can actually afford, and help more Virginians achieve their dream of owning a home.

At Cavco - Rocky Mount - a leading home manufacturer, Governor Spanberger signed bipartisan legislation to create a two-year pilot program to encourage increased housing development. The Governor also signed bills to cut red tape restricting the supply of manufactured homes and protect Virginians from hidden fees in rental agreements. The Governor was joined at the signing by families impacted by the new legislation and state and local leaders, including bill patrons Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, Delegate Dan Helmer, Delegate Paul Krizek, and Delegate Josh Thomas.

"Virginia has a housing affordability problem across the board. It is real, it is urgent, and it is one of the biggest threats to the strength of our Commonwealth," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "That is exactly why I made housing one of the pillars of my Affordable Virginia Agenda - and why the bills we're signing here today matter so much. Virginia is taking concrete steps to tackle the housing crisis - expanding supply, protecting tenants, increasing transparency, and making sure that manufactured housing has the same standing under Virginia law as any other home."

Prior to the signing, Governor Spanberger toured the Cavco facility to discuss the barriers preventing greater investment in new housing and how Virginia's housing shortage is impacting families across the region.

"I just finished a tour of this facility, and I saw firsthand how these homes are built," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "Let me say flat-out that these are quality homes. Zoning laws across Virginia have sometimes treated manufactured housing as something 'less than' - blocking it from neighborhoods where traditional site-built homes have always been welcome. This has left families with fewer options and a housing market that doesn't work for them. The bills we're signing here today change that - and open more doors to homeownership for families across Virginia."

In remarks at the event, Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, Delegate Paul Krizek, Delegate Dan Helmer, and Delegate Josh Thomas highlighted the impact the new legislation will have on families looking for a home that fits within their budget.

"Every day I hear from working people who are worried about their bills and the increasing cost of housing," said Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg. "I think the main job of the government is to make sure that everyday, average people can live the American dream, and core to that dream is being able to afford a house."

"These are not just starter homes," said Delegate Paul Krizek. "People love living in these communities. One of the bills we passed, which is a part of the Governor's agenda of lowering housing costs, protects tenants in existing manufactured home communities by giving them the opportunity to work with nonprofits, local government, or just by themselves to be able to have the first right of refusal to purchase their home and protect it."

"Right now, manufactured housing faces a different set of rules than built housing," said Delegate Dan Helmer. "We think that is getting in the way of building more homes and making homes more affordable in Virginia. We are really excited to have the opportunity to make sure that beautiful homes like the ones built here are all over Virginia."

"Sometimes zoning can get in the way," said Delegate Josh Thomas. "This bill cuts the red tape and allows a manufactured home to stay in an area, and more manufactured homes to come into that area, so long as it continues to be a manufactured home neighborhood."

Governor Spanberger was also joined by Executive Director of the Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association Randy Grumbine and John LaFlamme - a local homeowner who lost his home to an electrical fire and now will be able to stay in the area thanks to the new laws.

"We are committed to ensuring that these bills have the impact that we all feel today. And as an industry, we recognize that when there's opportunity, that comes with responsibility," said Grumbine. "All of this would not have been possible without Governor Spanberger's work to make housing more affordable, and her initiative that pushed these bills over the finish line."

"I lost everything. And while I got insurance money, zoning laws made it impossible for me to find a new home," said LaFlamme. "I thought I was just going to have to move somewhere else, but then I got a second opinion and learned that our Governor was signing new laws easing zoning restrictions. Now, thanks to Governor Spanberger, I'm able to buy a new home in this area."

Governor Spanberger signed the following bipartisan bills to address the rising cost of housing and support greater homeownership:

• HB196 (Delegate Josh Thomas), HB820 (Delegate Dan Helmer), SB490 (Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg) - Creating a revolving loan fund for the production of mixed-income housing development. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB356 (Delegate Josh Thomas), SB665 (Senator Kannan Srinivasan) - Strengthening housing data reported by localities. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB374 (Delegate Paul Krizek) - Protecting manufactured home tenants from hidden fees in rental agreements. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB375 (Delegate Paul Krizek) - Increasing homeownership by giving manufactured home park residents first right to purchase when the community is being sold. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB655 (Delegate Michelle Maldonado), SB346 (Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg) - Expanding homeownership opportunities for families by cutting red tape restricting zoning of manufactured homes. Passed with bipartisan support. Incorporates HB418 (Delegate Nadarius Clark) and HB801 (Delegate Dan Helmer).
• HB1463 (Delegate Josh Thomas) - Preventing red tape from restricting new homes in manufactured home communities. Passed unanimously.

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