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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2027 DRAFT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA GUIDANCEDraft 2027 General Assembly Legislative Agenda October 27, 2026 The City of Virginia Beach Today’s Presentation 1.Review Legislative Agenda timeline 2.Legislative Agenda Planning 3.Additions to the Draft Agenda 4.Draft Legislative Agenda •Policy Priorities •Code Amendments 5.Guidance/Questions Guidance At the conclusion of today’s presentation, we are looking for: 1.Any requested changes prior to bringing this to a vote at the next City Council meeting on November 10th 3 Legislative Agenda Timeline 4 Timeline Action July/August Solicit Department Directors and Council Members for agenda requests September Vet ideas and draft language for legislative agenda October 13 Present Draft Legislative Agenda October 20 Public Hearing for Legislative Agenda October 27 Council provides feedback based on public input as to what they would like to see in the final agenda November 10 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 5 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 ways: 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 Additions to the Draft Legislative Agenda 6 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 LJARC Tree Preservation Study Request a Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC) study on tree preservation. A primary objective of the initiative would be to evaluate whether the preservation of existing mature tree canopy should be recognized as a Best Management Practice (BMP) within Virginia’s stormwater regulatory framework and BMP Clearinghouse. This was a request of the Green Ribbon Commission. 8 Increasing Certain Traffic Offenses from a Secondary Offense to a Primary Offense In 2021, the General Assembly moved a group of minor traffic offenses from a primary offense to a secondary offense, requiring a more serious violation for a police officer to administer a traffic stop. This proposal would ask the General Assembly to introduce a series of legislation that would reestablish the following violations as a primary offense: •Broken taillights or faulty/defective vehicle lights •Excessively tinted windows •Expired registration or inspection stickers •Not wearing a seatbelt •Objects hanging from the rearview mirror •Marijuana Odor •Jaywalking 9 Animal Cruelty Registry In 2024 the General Assembly adopted a law that gave localities the authority to create and maintain an animal cruelty registry. Registries can list individuals convicted of specific felony animal cruelty crimes, animal fighting, or injury to police animals. This proposal would add of two types of individuals to the registry: •Individuals convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty offenses; and •Individuals who have been barred by a court from possessing companion animals. 10 Guidance and Questions Any requested changes prior to bringing this to a vote at the next City Council meeting on November 10th? 11 Policy Priorities 12 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 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.13 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 appreciates the General Assembly’s establishment of the Sports Tourism Grant program and encourages the General Assembly to increase its funding.14 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 encourages the General Assembly to continue efforts to raise teacher pay beyond the national average. 15 Energy With growing power demand and rising electric bills, the City of Virginia Beach encourages the Commonwealth to seek common sense solutions that enhance energy sustainability, reliability, and affordability. •The City of Virginia Beach appreciates efforts by the General Assembly to reduce the cost and administration of renewable energy interconnectivity at municipal facilities through the creation of the Solar Interconnection Grant Program and encourages the General Assembly to continue funding the grant program. •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 and battery storage 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.16 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. •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 impacted. •The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly refrain from capping, removing, or restricting local government revenue sources without replacing it with a sustainable revenue source of equal rate. •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. •The City of Virginia Beach supports the statewide authority for local governments to establish an excise tax on the sale of vaping products. •Maintain local option regarding collective bargaining for public sector employees.17 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.18 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, including greater authority to localities to enforce their zoning ordinances as they relate to short term rentals. 19 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, as the General Assembly considers changes to the Aid to Localities funding formula, it ensures that no locality experiences a reduction in funding as a result of any changes to the formula and supports increased funding levels to strengthen state assistance to localities. •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.20 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 improve safety and user education related to e-bikes including options to ban the use of cell phones while cycling, clarifying the definition of an e -bike and other motorized two- wheeled vehicles, and by supporting the recommendations of the city and state e-bike workgroups.21 Budget Amendments 22 Expand Sales Tax Referendum Authority for Resiliency Projects In 2026, the General Assembly expanded Virginia law to allow localities to seek voter approval through a referendum for a local sales tax of up to one-percent to generate dedicated revenue for school construction and renovation projects. This proposal would build upon that 2026 authority by expanding the allowable use of the one-percent sales tax to include flood protection and coastal storm risk management infrastructure. 23 Virginia Code Amendments 24 25 This proposal would allow eligible employees who remain on the job after becoming eligible for the Hazardous Duty Supplement to have the value of that benefit credited annually to an individual investment account administered by the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Deferred Retirement Option Plan for Public Safety Employees Tourism Development Financing Program The Tourism Development Financing Program (TDFP) is a state authorized program that uses sales taxes, both the state and local portions, along with a developer imposed “access fee” to support the development of tourism projects that enhance the local economy. This proposal creates a redevelopment financing tier that would support the redevelopment of a tourism facility by allowing the continued use of state and local sales tax revenues, while also authorizing the use of up to 20% of state income tax revenues generated by jobs created by the new tourism facility. 26 Community Safety Zones The City of Virginia Beach requests that the General Assembly provide the authority for a locality to create community safety zones when large-scale unpermitted events present a potential risk to public health, safety, or welfare. 27 Possession of Firearms While Intoxicated Amend Virginia law to prohibit any person from carrying or possessing a firearm in a public place while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Currently, this prohibition only applies to people with a concealed carry permit. 28 Increase the Representation of Law Enforcement on the Forensic Science Board This proposal seeks to expand the law enforcement representation on the Forensic Science Board from one representative to three representatives, with those appointments based on population. 29 Extend the Court-Ordered Timeframe for Temporary Adult Protective Services This proposal would extend the duration of emergency temporary guardianship and conservatorship orders used by Adult Protective Services (APS) from the current 15-day period, with one possible five-day extension, to a single 90-day period. The current timeframe is often insufficient to protect vulnerable adults and address their immediate needs. 30 1.Guidance on policy priorities for the 2027 General Assembly session 2.Any initial recommendations/concerns with items recommended by city staff 3.Any issues that you would like added or removed from consideration Guidance and Questions