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Loudoun supervisors back state bills on balcony solar and senior-rental units while urging continued advocacy on housing and data-center rules
Summary
The Board received a legislative briefing ahead of crossover, voted to support HB 395 (allowing small portable/balcony solar devices) and HB 1021 (giving localities options to require or incentivize affordable rental units in assisted-living projects), and discussed setbacks for local anti-rent-gouging and data-center measures in Richmond.
Supervisors heard a comprehensive legislative update from Mr. Freeman on Feb. 3 as the General Assembly nears crossover, then moved formal positions on two state bills.
"I move that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors support House Bill 395," said Supervisor Brixman, reading the motion to back portable solar devices with a maximum 1,200-watt output that plug into standard outlets and do not interconnect with the grid. The motion was seconded for discussion and drew questions about building-safety and weight limits for balcony installations; the county attorney said staff would review the bill language for potential local permitting or safety gaps. The board recorded the motion as passing with a reported tally of 6 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention and 1 member absent.
Shortly afterward the board moved to support House Bill 1021, a measure filed by Delegate Reza that would allow jurisdictions to work with developers of assisted-living facilities to include attainable rental units. Supporters described the bill as optional authority for localities to use special permits or ordinances to require or incentivize affordable units; some supervisors warned that mandatory language could raise zoning and comprehensive-plan issues in certain districts. The motion passed by voice vote with the same reported tally: 6 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain, 1 absent.
Beyond those votes, Mr. Freeman summarized several bills that did not advance this session: measures on data-center noise, local authority over data-center water use and zoning, air-pollution studies, and other data-center energy provisions were defeated or left in committee. He also flagged the Faith and Housing Act, which supervisors said could reduce local land-use authority for some religiously affiliated housing projects; several board members urged seeking reenactment clauses or other negotiating tactics to buy time for local discussion.
Supervisors stressed that bills grouped under "rent gouging" have distinct aims — such as requiring leases in certain languages or limiting in-lease midyear rent increases — and said Loudoun will continue to work with regional partners and the delegation to distinguish local proposals from broader statewide measures sent to study.
The board did not adopt formal opposition to other bills in the presentation but asked staff to continue monitoring and to return with recommended positions before Local Government Day and conference negotiations.
What happens next: the board'endorsed letters of support for HB 395 and HB 1021, and staff said it will follow up with legal review of the balcony-solar language and continued outreach on housing and data-center topics as Richmond works toward crossover.
