The Virginia Senate has passed an amended version of the Limited Residential Lodging Act that will slow down legislation to legalize short-term online rental platforms like Airbnb. The House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to amend the bill (SB 416) to ensure a thoughtful study of the issue over the coming months before any legislation is enacted. The substitute bill includes language that requires hosting platforms to register with the Virginia Department of Taxation and permits local governments to create a registry of rental properties, Richmond-Times Dispatch reports. “With Airbnb’s efforts to push similar bills across the country, the implications of this legislation go far beyond the confines of Virginia,” said Eric Terry, president of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association. “We are happy to see our state at the forefront of regulating a new player in the lodging sector.” Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AH&LA, said the decision empowers cities and towns to deal with challenges posed by short-term rentals. The bill now goes to Gov. Terry McAuliffe for consideration. To read more, click here.
