Bill Would Allow for Land Bank Establishment in Virginia
Land Bank Update
February 11, 2016
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Land Bank Entities Act. Authorizes the establishment of a land bank entity by any locality or two or more localities combined to assist in addressing vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent real properties. Under the bill, after a referendum has been held on the question of creating a land bank entity, the locality has the option of (i) creating an authority or a nonprofit, nonstock corporation or (ii) designating an existing nonprofit entity that is exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and eligible to receive donations from a locality pursuant to § 15.2-953 to carry out the functions of such land entity. The bill provides that land bank entities may acquire real property within participating localities or receive transfers and conveyances from the participating localities. Land bank entities are authorized to receive funding through grants and loans from participating localities, the Commonwealth, the federal government, and other public and private sources. In addition, the bill authorizes a locality to deem paid in full all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest, and other costs on any tax-delinquent property in exchange for conveyance of the property by the owner to a land bank entity. The bill also authorizes a participating locality to remit to the land bank entity up to 50 percent of the real property taxes collected on real property conveyed by a land bank entity for up to 10 years after the conveyance. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Housing Commission.
Source: Virginia General Assembly (HB 268 full text)
