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Bill

HB 1693

Real estate appraisers; educational requirement for licensure, fair housing & appraisal bias course.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alex Askew and 4 co-sponsors

Virginia bill requiring real estate appraisers to complete fair housing and appraisal bias training was vetoed by Governor and veto sustained by legislature.

House sustained Governor's veto
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Bill Summary · HB 1693

Legislative bill overview

HB 1693 would have required Virginia real estate appraisers to complete a fair housing and appraisal bias course as part of their licensure requirements. The bill passed through both chambers of the Virginia legislature but was vetoed by the Governor on March 24, 2025, and that veto was sustained by the House on April 2, 2025.

Why is this important

Appraisal bias—where property valuations are systematically lower in minority neighborhoods or for minority-owned properties—is a documented problem that affects wealth accumulation, mortgage lending, and housing market equity. Adding educational requirements targeting this issue could help reduce discriminatory practices in the appraisal profession, though implementation costs and effectiveness remain debatable.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory burden: Critics argue additional mandatory coursework increases licensing costs and administrative complexity for appraisers without guaranteed effectiveness in changing behavior
  • Training efficacy uncertainty: Questions about whether educational requirements alone meaningfully reduce bias compared to enforcement of existing fair housing laws
  • Governor's rationale for veto: The specific reasons for the gubernatorial veto were not detailed in the bill summary, but may reflect concerns about regulatory overreach, cost-benefit analysis, or alternative approaches to addressing appraisal bias

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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