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Loudoun presents 2026 legislative priorities; residents urge authority to limit rent increases
Summary
County staff outlined four primary 2026 legislative initiatives, including Oak Hill state‑park acquisition (no state funds requested), authority to consider power in land‑use decisions, permissive rent‑stabilization authority, and removing a cap on local home‑ownership grants; multiple residents urged the board to back rent protections.
Loudoun County staff presented the board's 2026 legislative program at the Dec. 10 public hearing and highlighted four initiatives the county will seek to carry to the General Assembly.
Staff said the county and a conservation partner have secured Oak Hill and the county appropriated $22,000,000 toward acquisition costs; staff emphasized that no state funds are required for the purchase and that the conservation fund has an endowment that would remain with the park if the General Assembly approves a state‑park designation. Staff also listed a legislative request to allow localities to consider power availability (citing Dominion's role in delivering power) when making land‑use decisions, permissive authority for local rent‑stabilization programs that would cap year‑over‑year rent increases, and removal of the statutory $25,000 cap on local home‑ownership grant programs so jurisdictions may set local limits.
Public commenters urged the board to press the General Assembly on rent protections. Americo Lopez, a resident of Lisburn Mobile Home Park, said dozens of families face displacement and urged support for a Sterling project proposing 325 units of 100% affordable housing targeted to households earning under 60% of area median income. Tenant organizers from New Virginia Majority — including Mavy Rodriguez and Andrea Alvarez — described steep rent increases, cited studies of regional rent escalation, and urged supervisors to back local authority to limit rent hikes. "Housing is not a privilege; it is a right," Mavy Rodriguez said.
Several supervisors thanked speakers and staff and encouraged residents to visit Richmond and contact state delegates and senators to advance county bills; a supervisor noted that county sponsors have repeatedly introduced housing legislation at the General Assembly and urged constituent advocacy to move proposals out of committee.
The board did not take a formal vote on the legislative program in this public‑hearing segment; supervisors asked staff to continue outreach and to provide updated materials.
