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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026 Draft Legislative AgendaDraft 2026 General Assembly Legislative Agenda September 23, 2025 The City of Virginia Beach Today’s Presentation 1.Today’s ask 2.General Assembly Preview 3.Legislative Agenda timeline 4.Legislative Agenda Planning 5.Policy Priorities 6.City Charter Amendment 7.Virginia Code Amendments 8.Budget requests 9.Legislative Reception 10.Guidance/Questions Guidance At the conclusion of today’s presentation, we are looking for: 1.Guidance on issues that should be added/changed/removed 2.E-Bike Options 3.Legislative Reception Discussion 4 2026 General Assembly •2026 will be a 60 day “long” session (46-day “short” session in odd numbered years) •Will build the two-year biennial budget (FY27 and FY28) •Governor Youngkin will introduce his final budget on December 17th •Will also amend the FY26 budget •Session begins on January 14th •Session should conclude by March 14th •Major themes will be shaped by election results •Response to federal government reductions (Jobs, Medicaid, SNAP, Local Grants) •Electricity demand, data center impacts, updating the Clean Economy Act 51 21 48 19 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 House Senate Virginia General Assembly Republican Democrat Legislative Agenda Timeline Timeline Action July/August Solicit Department Directors and Council Members for agenda requests September Vet ideas and draft language for legislative agenda September 23 Present Draft Legislative Agenda October 7 Public Hearing for Legislative Agenda October 14 Council provides feedback based on public input as to what they would like to see in the final agenda October 21 Legislative Agenda is brought to Council for adoption November –December Legislative Agenda is communicated to Virginia Beach Delegation and bill patrons are requested November –December Legislative reception Legislative Agenda Planning In September of 2023, Council adopted a policy regarding the process and adoption requirements for the City’s Legislative Agenda. •A legislative agenda item for the draft legislative agenda may be proposed in one of three manners: 1. Proposed by the Mayor 2. Proposed by at least three members of the City Council 3. Proposed by a City Department and approved by the City Manager •Legislative Agenda items require 2/3s majority for approval •Charter amendments to the legislative agenda requires 3/4s majority for approval Policy Priorities Affordable Housing The City of Virginia Beach seeks to address the growing need for affordable housing with the goal to ensure that all residents have access to safe, high quality, and affordable housing and to promote inclusive and diverse communities. •Because every locality has its unique challenges, the City of Virginia Beach encourages the General Assembly to provide funding, incentives, and policy flexibility to allow localities to tailor solutions that will fit their communities while maintaining the ability to control land use decisions at the local level. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts to reform the eviction process to ensure that tenants have adequate opportunities to meet their rental requirements and remain in their homes while safeguarding investments made by landlords. •The City of Virginia Beach supports increased funding for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to expand and preserve the supply of affordable homes. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts to establish, expand, and fund rental assistance programs and first-time homebuyer assistance programs. Economic Development The City of Virginia Beach aims to implement a dynamic and forward-thinking economic development strategy designed to foster sustainable growth, enhance economic diversification, and promote innovation. •The City of Virginia Beach encourages the General Assembly to support local and regional efforts to attract and retain talent that will support the growing workforce needs of the Hampton Roads region. •The City of Virginia Beach encourages the General Assembly to support initiatives that provide funding, incentives, and policy flexibility that aligns with the City’s economic growth strategy. •The City of Virginia Beach requests continued support from the General Assembly to increase access to affordable childcare. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly provide funding for the recently created Sports Tourism Grant Program. Education The City of Virginia Beach continues to support the Virginia Beach School Board’s efforts to enhance educational resources, teacher support, and student development to foster a robust educational environment and prepare students for future success. •The City of Virginia Beach encourages the General Assembly to implement reforms to increase the Commonwealth’s share of education funding as was identified in the 2024 JLARC study regarding Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts by the General Assembly to provide additional funding to support school construction, including efforts to ensure that Virginia Lottery Funds are utilized to enhance education funding, not supplant existing needs and allocations. As construction costs continue to increase, it is critical that localities have support from the Commonwealth to continue to modernize school facilities. Energy The City of Virginia Beach seeks to establish a forward-looking multi-pronged energy policy designed to enhance energy sustainability, reliability, and resilience. This policy aims to integrate renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and prepare for future energy demands while reducing the city’s carbon footprint. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts by the General Assembly to reduce the cost and administration of renewable energy interconnectivity at municipal facilities. •While the City of Virginia Beach supports the Commonwealth’s goals to increase the use of clean energy, it is critical to recognize the potential impact utility scale energy projects have on communities and localities. Because of these potential impacts, the City of Virginia Beach encourages the General Assembly to continue to support the authority of localities to regulate the siting and development of energy facilities. Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Impacts The City of Virginia Beach seeks to address fiscal challenges and annual budgetary impacts in a responsible manner that effectively meets essential services and community needs. •Federal Government decisions to realign its priorities, reduce the federal workforce, and reform federal programs, will likely impact the Commonwealth’s economy and reduce available services. When resources are not available at the federal or state level, it falls onto local governments to provide resources for residents most in need, especially as it comes to health care, housing, and food insecurity. The City of Virginia Beach encourages the General Assembly to prioritize filling these funding gaps where possible and to partner with local governments to support those who will be impacted. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly refrain from capping, removing, or restricting local government revenue sources without replacing the source with a sustainable revenue source of equal rate. •City staff have identified more than 75 mandates from the state and federal governments that have created an unfunded burden of more than $125 million annually with another $110 million identified by Virginia Beach Public Schools. The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly refrain from creating additional unfunded mandates and provide financial support to fill the gaps created by these unfunded mandates. •Maintain local option regarding collective bargaining for public sector employees Flooding and Stormwater The City of Virginia Beach aims to improve resilience to flooding, enhance stormwater infrastructure, and promote sustainable practices to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the Commonwealth develop a state funding program to support the non-federal match requirements of localities for federal grants that support large-scale flood relief projects. •The City of Virginia Beach supports continued investment in the Storm Water Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) for improvements and installation of effective storm water management controls. •The City of Virginia Beach supports increased funding for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund along with improved guidelines for the program that increases the project cap, extends the loan period, and delays interest accrual until project completion. Land Use The City of Virginia Beach aims to utilize a comprehensive land use and development strategy to guide sustainable growth, optimize land utilization, and enhance the quality of life for its residents. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly refrain from passing legislation that would reduce or eliminate the authority of the Commonwealth’s localities from making their own land use decisions. •The City of Virginia Beach supports preserving local authority to regulate short term rentals and to enhance enforcement of those regulations. Public Safety The City of Virginia Beach seeks to ensure a safe and healthy community for residents and visitors through proactive measures, enhanced technology, and increased resources. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly prioritize increased dedicated funding to police, fire, and emergency medical services. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly preserve existing local authority to implement public safety technology including expanding local authority to install speed enforcement cameras beyond school and construction zones and enable the use of noise abatement devices to better enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly provide greater resources for localities and the Commonwealth’s Office of Hemp Enforcement (OHE) to better educate the public, especially minors, on the risks of possessing and consuming intoxicating hemp products and to better enforce the laws regulating these products, with an emphasis placed on enforcement action plans for retailers who continue to sell intoxicating hemp products. Transportation The City of Virginia Beach seeks to enhance mobility, reduce congestion, and improve sustainability of transportation infrastructure through modernizing road networks, supporting public transit and multi-modal options, and ensuring safety and accessibility for all users. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts to continue to improve highway and secondary roadway infrastructure throughout Hampton Roads. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) to protect and enhance transit programs and funding including appropriate essential, consistent funding to meet HRT’s capital and operating needs, including innovative transit options such as micro -transit. •The City of Virginia Beach supports General Assembly efforts to continue investing in trail projects with a request that the Virginia Beach Trail be considered for any future funding opportunities. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts by the General Assembly to protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. •The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts to promote micromobility options while also improving safety and user education related to e-bikes. City Charter Amendment The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly amend the City of Virginia Beach Charter to require an affirmative supermajority vote of three-fourths of all members of City Council is required to approve a land use application south of the Blue Line. Section 2.03. Procedure for Land Use Approvals South of the Blue Line •As used in this section, the “blue line” shall be a line running along North Landing Road to Indian River Road, then extends eastward to New Bridge Road, then proceeding north until it intersects with Sandbridge Road, then proceeding eastward tracing the eastern and southern boundaries of the Sandbridge Special Service District until such boundary reaches the Atlantic Ocean. •No land use application to the City Council south of the blue line creating a more intense use than the then-current approval for such property on the effective date of this legislation shall be approved except by a recorded affirmative vote of three-fourths of all of the members elected to the City Council Protecting the Blue Line Virginia Code Amendments The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly adopt legislation that grants localities the authority to require an STR platform to remove a nonconforming STR listing and refund/cancel bookings for that listing. De-listing Noncompliant Short-term Rentals The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly establish and fund a grant program administered by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to provide funding to localities for cancer screenings for first responders. Establish the Emergency Responder Grant Fund and Program The City of Virginia requests that the General Assembly adopt legislation that expands the allowable expenses under the “Four for Life” program. Amend Virginia Code Section 46.2-694 Fees for vehicles designed and used for transportation of passengers; e. Twenty-six percent shall be returned by the Comptroller to the locality wherein such vehicle is registered, to provide funding for training of volunteer or salaried emergency medical services personnel of nonprofit emergency medical services agencies that hold a valid license issued by the Commissioner of Health and for the purchase or maintenance of necessary equipment, and supplies, facilities, vehicles permitted by the Virginia Office of EMS, and other operating expenses deemed necessary by the locality to ensure the provision of emergency medical services in that locality for use in such locality for emergency medical services provided by nonprofit emergency medical services agencies that hold a valid license issued by the Commissioner of Health. Expanding the allowable expenses under "Four for Life" funding for EMS Request that the General Assembly increase the annual assessment levied on businesses that sell fire insurance premiums from the amount of one percent of the total direct gross premium income for such insurance to one and a half percent. Amend Virginia Code Section 38.2 Insurance, Chapter 4. 38.2-401. Fire Programs Fund: The Commission shall annually assess against all licensed insurance companies doing business in the Commonwealth by writing any type of insurance as defined in §§38.2-110, 38.2-111, 38.2-126, 38.2-130 and 38.2-131 and those combination policies as defined in §38.2-1921 that contain insurance as defined in §§38.2-110, 38.2-111 and 38.2-126, an assessment in the amount of one and one half percent of the total direct gross premium income for such insurance. Such assessment shall be apportioned, assessed and paid as prescribed by §38.2-403. In any year in which a company has no direct gross premium income or in which its direct gross premium income is insufficient to produce at the rate of assessment prescribed by law an amount equal to or in excess of $100, there shall be so apportioned and assessed against such company a contribution of $100. Fire Programs Fund Aid to Localities The City Council requests that the General Assembly grant localities the authority, by ordinance, to require the use of low-impact markings when identifying utility locations in officially designated tourism zones. Amend State Corporation Commission Rule 20VAC5-309-110. General Marking Requirements. J. If the use of line marking is considered damaging to property (driveways, landscaping, historic locations, designated tourism districts, to the extent boundaries are known), “spot” marking or other suitable marking methods shall be used. Low-impact Utility Markings The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly authorize the Virginia Marine Resource Commission to permit the marsh terrace project and allow it to move forward. Amend Virginia Code Section 28.2-1205. Permits for the use of state-owned bottomlands “A local government whose borders are adjacent to the Back Bay and its tributaries who is intending to construct wetlands within the Bonney Cove section of Back Bay and its tributaries, for the purposes of marsh restoration and/or creation, shall be authorized by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission when the acreage of restored and/or created wetlands together with acreage promoting regrowth of submerged aquatic vegetation equals or exceeds the total acreage of direct impacts to submerged aquatic vegetation, plus direct impacts to “vegetated wetlands of Back Bay and its tributaries”, and direct impacts to “nonvegetated wetlands.” Marsh Terrace Project Permit The City of Virginia Beach requests the General Assembly devote additional resources to better understand the ecology of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay region and to direct the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to implement additional conservation-minded management strategies for the Menhaden Reduction fishery for Virginia’s waters. •Prohibit industrial reduction fishing in Virginia’s waters until adequate science is developed to determine the sustainability of removing large volumes of this key forage species from the Chesapeake Bay estuary. •Implement quota periods for the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Cap, to mitigate impacts of concentrated industrial fishing effort in the Bay. •Adopt time and area closures in order to protect important predator species, such as osprey. •Require fisheries observers on all purse-seine fishing trips within the Chesapeake Bay. Funding to come from a Virginia reduction landings fee established by the Commonwealth. Menhaden Fishing Regulation Pop-Up Event Zone Requirements: •Localities must provide a minimum of 24 hours' public notice before a Pop -Up Event Zone is activated. •Public Information Webpage •Clearly visible signage must be posted at all ingress and egress points of the Pop -Up Zone •If speed limits are reduced within the zone, additional signage must clearly indicate the new speed limit to motorists. Pop-Up Event Zone Enforcement Powers: •Enhanced Traffic Fines •Temporary Speed Limit Reductions •Localities may establish and enforce occupancy limits on both public and private property within the Pop -Up Zone •Cost Recovery from Event Organizers •Curfew for Unaccompanied Minors The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly provide the authority for a locality to create a “Pop-Up Zone” that includes the following: ”Pop-up” Event Zones Budget Amendments City of Virginia Beach Budget Requests Organization Budget Language Amount Requested Virginia Beach Fire Department Out of the first year of the budget, the City of Virginia Beach requests funding to support VBFD’s Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces (VATF-2) $1,775,000 Virginia Beach Police Department Out of the first year of the budget, the City of Virginia Beach requests funding to support gun violence prevention , of which funding will go towards the City’s Parks After Dark Program and to upgrade equipment needs that will support safety in neighborhoods $1,000,000 Virginia Aquarium Out of the first year of the budget, the City of Virginia Beach requests funding to support the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Program $250,000 Virginia Aquarium The City of Virginia Beach requests support for the renovation and expansion of the Virginia Aquarium Up to $10,000,000 City Manager's Office Out of the first year of the budget, the City of Virginia Beach requests additional support for the renovation of Courthouse office space in Building 10 $250,000 The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly expand taxing authority to generate new, sustainable revenue streams for local governments. Empowering Local Governments: Funding Unfunded Mandates Through Partnership Existing Revenue Streams – Expand Local Share 4. Online Sports Gambling •Current: 15% state tax = $92M/year (no local share) •Proposed: Add 5% local tax = $30.7M/year •Daily Fantasy Sports: If the General Assembly moves forward with regulating and taxing DFS similar to online sports gambling, then a local government tax should be included. 5. Tobacco Products State revenue: $225M/year from cigarettes and other tobacco taxes Localities capped at 40¢ per pack or their current rate; no authority to tax other tobacco products Proposals: Remove cap on local cigarette taxes Add local tax on "other" tobacco that is equal to ½ state tax = $27.5M/year 6. Modernizing the Sales Tax to Include Digital Downloads and Streaming State revenue estimates: $200M - $500M 1% local tax estimate: $40M - $100M New Revenue Opportunities 1. Cannabis Marketplace •2025 Proposal: 2.5% local tax = $20M/year by 2031 •Proposed Increase: 5% local tax = $40M/year by 2031 2. Skill Games •2025 Proposal: 2.25% local share = $15M/year •Proposed Increase: 5% local share = $33.5M/year 3. I-Gaming 15% state tax generates $150M–$400M/year Proposed Local Tax: •5% = $53M–$133M/year •2.5% = $26.5M–$66.75M/year Additional Issues •Included language from the Active Transportation Advisory Committee in the policy section The City of Virginia Beach supports efforts to promote micromobility options while also improving safety and user education related to e-bikes. •Also included a page in the code amendment section to provide flexibility E-bikes offer a convenient, eco-friendly mode of transportation, but their speed and accessibility also introduce unique safety challenges—particularly for younger or inexperienced riders. The increased presence of e-bikes on roads, sidewalks, and shared paths has led to a rise in accidents and near-misses involving pedestrians, motorists, and other vulnerable users, such as children and seniors. To address these concerns, the City of Virginia Beach urges the General Assembly to adopt enhanced regulations aimed at improving safety for all e-bike users and the broader public. Clear, enforceable rules are essential to minimizing hazardous interactions and ensuring that public spaces remain safe, accessible, and welcoming to everyone. •We will bring an additional presentation to you regarding existing authority from the Commonwealth and in our local code and look for further guidance of how you would like to move forward. E-Bike Safety •Surveying for new date •Still proposing an open reception in the evening •Goal is to strengthen relationships between City Council and General Assembly delegation, meet any new members of the delegation, and to provide an opportunity to educate the delegation about the legislative agenda Legislative Reception 1.Guidance on issues that should be added/changed/removed 2.E-Bike Options 3.Legislative Reception Discussion Guidance and Questions