Please Wait a Moment
X

News Releases

Publications News Releases

eNews – August 28, 2026

eNews – August 28, 2026

Annual Conference perks, Housing Commission meets, DJJ updating policies...and more!

Friday, August 28, 2026/Categories: eNews

This edition of eNews is sponsored by Virginia Institute of Government - Weldon Cooper Center, assisting local goverments in building governance capacity and developing dynamic leaders at all levels...Learn more >

In this issue

VML Annual Conference

Housing

Health & Human Resources

VML News Board

  • Virginia Women Leading Government presents the first annual Woman's Leadership Day September 24
  • Localities are encouraged to complete the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority survey
  • FOIA training for local officials: Online courses happening Oct. 20 and Nov. 12

Annual Conference

“Show Your Badge” discounts

Thanks to the work of the amazing City of Norfolk and VisitNorfolk, VML is pleased to announce that attendees of the 2026 VML Annual Conference will be able to experience discounted shopping, dining, and attractions at a discount just by showing their conference badge!

There are dozens (and dozens) of places where you can use your badge to get great deals including many of the shops and restaurants in Selden Market, which is just a short walk from the conference and the site of the Host City Night Reception on Monday, October 12. Show Your Badge discounts are also available at popular attractions like The Nauticus Museum / Battleship Wisconsin, the Chrysler Museum / Perry Glass Studio, and many more!

All the shops, restaurants, and experiences available at a discount just by being a VML Conference attendee are available here >.

See you in Norfolk!

VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org

Housing

Virginia Housing Commission holds August meetings

On August 18, the Housing Commission’s Local Rent Regulation Workgroup and full commission held meetings.

The Local Rent Regulation Workgroup took up discussion of HB278 (Clark) / SB355 (Boysko), which would grant localities optional authority to implement regulations limiting residential rent increases, or anti-rent gouging regulations. Housing Commission staff opened the discussion by summarizing the findings of staff’s policy analysis regarding local rent regulation (full report available here >).

The analysis presented mixed results, ultimately finding that rent regulation policies do not directly correlate to clear, direct improvements to housing quality and the rent regulation policies presented potential negative impacts to housing markets and future renters.

The subsequent bill discussion was limited to workgroup members as public comment was made during a previous meeting. The workgroup did not offer bill amendments nor were members able to reach consensus. As such, workgroup chair Senator Mamie Locke reported to the full commission that the rent regulation bills did not have a final workgroup recommendation. The workgroup does not plan to meet again regarding this legislation.

Following the workgroup meeting, the full Housing Commission met and heard updates from all three workgroup chairs; a presentation on economic, demographic, and housing trends; and a brief discussion of a draft bill originally introduced by Senator Scott Surovell. The draft legislation would require localities subject to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act to include a notice on annual real property tax assessment notices indicating whether a property is located within a Resource Protection Area. Senator Surovell was unable to attend the commission meeting, so discussion was limited, but VML provided testimony regarding concerns about confusion for taxpayers due to the lack of nexus between the required disclosure and the property assessment.

Links to the economic, demographic, and housing trends presentations are below:

The Housing Commission will take final action on all legislation currently under review by the commission and its workgroups during the commission’s meeting on November 9 at 1:00.  

VML Contact: Jessica Dennis, jdennis@vml.org

Health & Human Resources

DJJ updating policies; creating new programs and partnerships

Expanding community-based services and mental-health partnerships and working more with locally operated detention centers are among the changes taking place at the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

DJJ Director Bob Bermingham Jr. and Chief Deputy Marilyn Brown have visited with local detention centers, court services units, youth advocates and other stakeholders to learn more about challenges and opportunities for the statewide system and have instituted quarterly stakeholder meetings with state association representatives, including VML.

The Department has decreased the population at the state’s single facility – Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center – through concerted efforts to move youth more efficiently through placement and on-time release and by building new partnerships with local detention centers that allow youth to move to facilities that provide increased access to service providers. It also allows these facilities to serve more youth closer to their home communities rather than having them placed in the one state facility farther away from home and family. 

Finally, new educational opportunities have been introduced at Bon Air, including a career development center and a life literacy course to strengthen basic life skills and career awareness. Additional efforts are being made to build community programs and to embed mental health providers in court services units. 

VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org

VML News Board – Recent Posts

Please check the VML News Board (no password required) for the latest notices and opportunities for local governments, including recently added items such as: