State Delegate Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker has introduced new legislation designed to raise energy efficiency standards in Virginia’s building code, according to the Virginia State House.
The measure, known as HB377, was filed on Jan. 14, 2026, in the 2026 regular session, with the formal title: “Uniform Statewide Building Code; amendments, energy efficiency and conservation.”
The summary below, based on the official bill language, includes clarified interpretations of its contents.
Specifically, the bill updates the state’s Uniform Statewide Building Code by obligating the Board of Housing and Community Development to adopt changes within 18 months of each new edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. It also requires that Virginia’s energy efficiency standards match or exceed the latest IECC release. The Board must review whether regulation changes uphold health, safety and welfare standards – weighing factors like long-term energy cost savings and air quality benefits – and enforce the new criteria within 12 months of adoption. Exemptions for farm buildings and emergency requirements are maintained.
The measure lists Rep. Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democrat-5th District), Rep. Betsy B. Carr (Democrat-78th District), and Rep. Alfonso H. Lopez (Democrat-3rd District), along with two additional sponsors, as its patrons.
Bennett-Parker has sponsored 12 more bills since the session began.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in 2007.
Bennett-Parker, a Democrat, was also elected in 2026 to serve in the Virginia State Senate for the state’s 39th House District, succeeding former state senator Adam Ebbin.
In Virginia, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either legislative chamber. It is assigned to relevant committees for review and possible revision. After advancing out of committee, the legislation moves to a floor vote in both the House and Senate. Bills passed by both are sent to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow enactment without signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets every year starting on the second Monday in January and considers hundreds of proposals each session, of which only a fraction are enacted into law.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Betsy B. Carr, Alfonso H. Lopez, Elizabeth R. Guzman, and Paul E. Krizek | HB377 | 01/14/2026 | Uniform Statewide Building Code; amendments, energy efficiency and conservation. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Adele Y. McClure, Atoosa R. Reaser, Briana D. Sewell, Debra D. Gardner, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Garrett McGuire, Gretchen M Bulova, Jackie H. Glass, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Karen R. “Kacey” Carnegie, Kathy K.L. Tran, Katrina Callsen, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Kimberly Pope Adams, Laura Jane Cohen, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Lily V. Franklin, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Margaret A. Franklin, Mark C. Downey, Marty Martinez, May Nivar, Michael B. Feggans, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nadarius E. Clark, Rae Cousins, Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr., and Rozia A. Henson, Jr. | HB4 | 01/14/2026 | Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Barbara A. Favola, Dan I. Helmer, Holly M. Seibold, Irene Shin, Jessica L. Anderson, Kathy K.L. Tran, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Marty Martinez, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Rae Cousins, and Rozia A. Henson, Jr. | HB93 | 01/14/2026 | Firearms; transfers to another person from a prohibited person. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB94 | 01/14/2026 | Vehicle registration fees; disabled veterans. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Adele Y. McClure, Amy J. Laufer, Atoosa R. Reaser, Charlie Schmidt, Debra D. Gardner, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Garrett McGuire, Gretchen M Bulova, Jackie H. Glass, Jessica L. Anderson, Joshua G. Cole, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Karen R. “Kacey” Carnegie, Kathy K.L. Tran, Katrina Callsen, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Kimberly Pope Adams, Laura Jane Cohen, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Margaret A. Franklin, Mark C. Downey, Marty Martinez, May Nivar, Michael B. Feggans, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nadarius E. Clark, Rae Cousins, Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr., Rozia A. Henson, Jr., Stacey Annie Carroll, and Virgil Thornton | HB95 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Laura Jane Cohen, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Shelly A. Simonds, Adele Y. McClure, Amy J. Laufer, Atoosa R. Reaser, Debra D. Gardner, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Garrett McGuire, Gretchen M Bulova, Jackie H. Glass, Jessica L. Anderson, Joshua E. Thomas, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Karen R. “Kacey” Carnegie, Kathy K.L. Tran, Katrina Callsen, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Lily V. Franklin, Margaret A. Franklin, Mark C. Downey, Marty Martinez, May Nivar, Michael B. Feggans, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nadarius E. Clark, Rae Cousins, Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr., Rozia A. Henson, Jr., Stacey Annie Carroll, Virgil Thornton, and Vivian E. Watts | HB96 | 01/14/2026 | School breakfast; availability at no cost to students. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB379 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; application, notice, deposit, fee. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Delores L. McQuinn, and Jeion A. Ward | HB380 | 01/14/2026 | Celiac disease; training materials for restaurant personnel. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker and Marcia S. “Cia” Price | HB381 | 01/14/2026 | Investigation or autopsy of dead bodies; notification of retention of whole organ. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB382 | 01/14/2026 | School board chairmen and vice-chairmen; additional annual salary. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB383 | 01/14/2026 | SCHEV; exemption of certain courses and programs of instruction from certification requirement. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB385 | 01/14/2026 | Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores, tastings. |
| 2026 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Alfonso H. Lopez, and Jackie H. Glass | HB975 | 01/14/2026 | Alcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio, report. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB2653 | 01/14/2025 | Qualified equity and subordinated debt investments tax credit; sunset. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Shelly A. Simonds, Adele Y. McClure, Alex Q. Askew, Alfonso H. Lopez, Atoosa R. Reaser, Betsy B. Carr, Bonita G. Anthony, C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr., Candi Mundon King, Charniele L. Herring, Dan I. Helmer, Debra D. Gardner, Delores L. McQuinn, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Holly M. Seibold, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Kathy K.L. Tran, Katrina Callsen, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Laura Jane Cohen, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Mark D. Sickles, Marty Martinez, Michael B. Feggans, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Patrick A. Hope, Paul E. Krizek, Rae Cousins, Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr., and Vivian E. Watts | HB1973 | 01/13/2025 | Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB1993 | 01/13/2025 | Public school buses; display of advertising, hiring of school bus drivers. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB1994 | 01/13/2025 | Alcoholic beverage control; requirements for restaurant retail licensees. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB1995 | 01/13/2025 | SCHEV; evaluating certain activities/programs of private & out-of-state postsecondary institutions. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | HB1996 | 01/13/2025 | Planning and zoning; second public hearing notice. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker and Irene Shin | HB2104 | 01/13/2025 | Seizure rescue meds.; administration by certain school employees, possession by certain students. |
| 2025 | Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, and Nadarius E. Clark | HB1960 | 01/08/2025 | Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person. |
