KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Virginia

HB790 • 2026

Hotel policies; denial of guests residing within certain distance prohibited in certain instances.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 35.1 a section numbered 35.1-29, relating to hotel policies; denial of guests residing within certain distance prohibited in certain instances.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Austin
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact distance within which a guest's home must be to qualify is not specified by the law.

Hotel Policies; Denial of Guests Residing Within Certain Distance Prohibited

This law stops hotels from refusing guests who live nearby if those guests need the hotel for health or safety reasons.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule in Virginia's laws about hotel policies.
  • Forbids hotels from denying stays to guests whose main home is close by, if the guest needs the stay for their health or safety.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hotels in Virginia
  • Guests who need a hotel room for health or safety reasons

Terms To Know

Virginia Human Rights Act
A set of laws that protect people from unfair treatment based on certain personal characteristics.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify the exact distance within which a guest's home must be to qualify.
  • Hotels can still make rules for health and safety as long as they follow the Human Rights Act.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 666 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 666 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0666)

  4. 2026-03-25 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  5. 2026-03-25 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-16 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB790)

  7. 2026-03-14 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-03-14 Senate

    Signed by President

  9. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-03-14 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB790ER)

  11. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-03-04 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)

  18. 2026-02-26 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB790)

  19. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  20. 2026-02-18 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  21. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-02-16 House

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  23. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  24. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  25. 2026-02-12 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

  26. 2026-02-12 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

  27. 2026-01-26 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

  28. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101687D

  29. 2026-01-13 General Laws

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Hotel policies; denial of guests residing within certain distance prohibited in certain instances.
Prohibits a hotel from enforcing a policy denying the ability of a guest to stay at such hotel solely on the grounds that such guest's primary residence is located within a certain distance of such hotel if such guest is seeking to stay for his health or safety.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 35.1 a section numbered
35.1-29
, relating to hotel policies; denial of guests residing within certain distance prohibited in certain instances.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 35.1 a section numbered
35.1-29
as follows:
§
35.1-29
. Certain enforcement of policies prohibited.
A. No hotel shall enforce a policy denying the ability of a guest to stay at such hotel solely on the grounds that such guest's primary residence is located within a certain distance of such hotel if such guest is seeking to stay for his health or safety.
B. The provisions of this section shall not preclude a hotel from adopting policies to protect the health and safety of its guests or employees or for other legitimate business purposes provided such policies are in accordance with the Virginia Human Rights Act (§
2.2-3900
et seq.).