(The Center Square) – Housing bills advanced by Democrats in Virginia’s House of Delegates this session focus on regulatory changes rather than policies that would immediately lower costs for families, say Republicans in the chamber.
The comments came as the majority party promotes a slate of housing measures they describe as part of a broader affordability agenda. Several of the bills have passed the House and now move to the Senate.
Speaking during a press gaggle Tuesday, House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, said the Democratic-backed proposals do not provide direct financial relief for households facing rising costs.
“Not one of those bills actually lowers costs for a family immediately,” Kilgore said. “Not one.”
Kilgore said the legislation relies heavily on studies and regulatory reforms rather than direct cost reductions.
“They say tenant protections provide some rent decrease, but it does nothing,” he said. “And in fact, it’ll probably increase rent because of all the other bills that we’ve passed regarding landlord-tenant law.”
Kilgore said Republicans have instead pushed tax relief proposals they believe could lower costs right away, including repealing the state’s car tax and grocery tax.
Virginia’s car tax is assessed annually by local governments and varies based on a vehicle’s value and where it is registered.
“We’ve come forward with a plan that could lower taxes for our citizens across the commonwealth tomorrow,” he said. “We could cut the car tax. We could do away with the grocery tax. We could eliminate other taxes that we have put forth, and we could actually provide lower costs to Virginians immediately.”
Kilgore said lawmakers still have an opportunity to act through the budget process.
“There’s still a chance,” he said. “We’ve got the budget process that we could work through.”
The House-passed legislation addresses a range of landlord-tenant issues, including rent payment methods, eviction procedures, disclosure requirements and lease termination rules. The measures largely focus on limiting certain fees, expanding tenant protections during eviction cases and adding new obligations for landlords.
First-term Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger said Monday more than half of the proposals in her Affordable Virginia Agenda have already passed at least one chamber. She said the measures are intended to ease pressure from rising housing, health care and energy costs.
Kilgore said Republicans believe tax relief offers a more direct path to affordability and pointed to public frustration with the car tax.
“Ninety-six percent of the folks across Virginia want the car tax repeal,” he said. “That’s the most hated tax in Virginia.”
Kilgore said support for eliminating the tax exists across party lines and said lawmakers should focus on results rather than credit.
“It doesn’t matter who gets credit,” he said. “We just have to provide more of our citizens affordability.”
