Mathews County Attorney Andrea Erard, during last Thursday’s meeting of the Mathews County Board of Supervisors, reviewed a number of pieces of legislation that had passed during the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly that will impact localities. Among the laws she outlined were those governing accessory dwelling units, manufactured housing, mandatory family and medical leave, wage transparency, solar farms, and faith-based housing development. Under House Bill 611, localities must develop ordinances allowing the placement of accessory dwelling units in all single-family residential zoning districts and limit the fee charged for a permit to $500. The units can’t have setback and similar requirements that are more restrictive than the primary dwelling unit, and the occupant doesn’t have to be a family member. Erard said the county needs to “be ready to go next July,” when the law goes into effect. Manufactured housing must now be permitted in every zoning district that allows...