eNews – February 13, 2026
Action Alerts for bills that would raise utility bills for customers and override local zoning authority, Memo from ELECT...and more!
Friday, February 13, 2026/Categories: eNews
This edition of eNews is sponsored by American Public University, committed to breaking barriers by providing high quality, affordable education through 200+ degree and certificate programs. Learn more >
VML’s 2026 General Assembly resources can be found on our website here >.
In this issue:
Action Alerts
Elections
Budget
Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Senate and House Courts of Justice Committees
Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
Senate Local Government Committee
Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee
House Courts of Justice Committee
House Education Committee
House Finance Committee
House Labor and Commerce Committee
House Privileges and Elections Committee
House Public Safety Committee
House Transportation Committee
VML News
Opportunities
Action Alerts
OPPOSE: SB386 Biosolids bill would increase costs for wastewater facilities and raise utility bills for customers
Will be heard by the Senate on Monday!
SB386 (Stuart) Distribution of sewage sludge; perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances testing requirements; civil penalty.
SB386 is currently on the Senate Floor and will be heard next week! This legislation will establish extremely strict and unworkable requirements that will effectively prohibit the land application of biosolids that contain trace amounts of PFAS.
For more information on biosolids legislation see this letter from the Virginia Municipal Wastewater Association.
Reasons to OPPOSE SB386:
- This is an unworkable ban. The bill bans land application of biosolids containing even “trace amounts” of PFAS. PFAS is ubiquitous in the environment and biosolids are no exception. All biosolids have trace amounts of PFAS. So do the air and the rain and the water.
- If land application of biosolids is not possible then localities will face significant capital costs for either the permitting and construction of incinerators or costs from diverting sewage sludge to landfills (which already face capacity constraints).
- VML and organizations like the Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies (VAMWA) continue to engage in a process to find a workable compromise on biosolids PFAS legislation but SB386 is highly problematic.
Action Requested:
- SB386 is currently on the Senate Floor. Please contact your Senator today or early Monday to ask them to vote NO on SB386!
- You can also tell them that you support the alternative legislation, HB1443 which is outlined below.
- VMWA has an email template (view/download here) that you can use. It is helpful to follow-up your email with a prompt call to the Senator’s Richmond office number to speak to the Senator or to his or her Chief of Staff or Legislative Aide (asking for your email to be brought to the Senator’s attention).
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
SUPPORT: HB1443 Biosolids bill has more workable limits than the Senate version
HB1443 (Lopez) Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distributing of sewage sludge; perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; testing requirements.
HB1443 is currently on the House floor and will be heard next week.
Reasons to SUPPORT HB1443:
- This bill has more workable limits on the quantity of PFAS in land applied biosolids than those of SB385 (outlined in this issue of eNews here >).
- Negotiations are continuing with municipal wastewater facilities to establish more reasonable limits on PFAS in land applied biosolids.
For more information on biosolids legislation see this letter from the Virginia Municipal Wastewater Association.
Action Requested:
Please contact your Delegate and tell them you SUPPORT the municipal compromise in HB1443 and OPPOSE SB386.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
OPPOSE: SB388 Faith in housing bill would override local zoning authority
Alternative is to support the reenactment clause in HB1279
SB388 (McPike) Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.
SB388 would require localities to allow housing by right on religious and certain non-profit property without the benefit of input from the neighbors or consideration of capacity for schools and other government services and infrastructure.
This bill has passed the Senate.
Reasons to OPPOSE SB388:
This proposal imposes timelines for administrative approval more stringent than for other uses and states that these plans are “deemed approved” if the timelines are not met. This is unworkable for localities and potentially violates Virginia Code Section 15.2-2282 which requires that zoning regulations be uniform throughout the district. This approval and by right allowance may differ from other properties in the district violating this long-standing code section.
SUPPORT the reenactment clause in HB1279
HB1279 (Cole) Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.
While similar to SB388, this bill has a reenactment clause which means it would need to be voted on again next year. This will allow time to take stock of the impacts.
This bill is in the Senate Local Government Committee.
Action Requested:
- Contact your Delegate to OPPOSE SB388.
- Contact the members of the Senate Local Government Committee (below) to SUPPORT the reenactment clause in HB1279.
VML has created a form letter you can use to communicate with legislators regarding these bills. It is available to view/download here >.
Senate Local Government Committee Members
VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
Elections
ELECT memo clarifies questions about satellite voting locations for April 21 special election
HB1384 (Torian) Constitutional amendment; April 21, 2026 special election; voter referendum; appropriations. This constitutional amendment redistricting bill was approved by Governor Spanberger on February 6. The bill has a line which states “localities shall establish voter satellite offices” for the April 21 2026 Special Election. This has led to questions about whether localities without satellite offices have to create them by April 21.
Yesterday (February 12), the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) issued a memo addressing these concerns. In the memo, ELECT states its opinion that localities that have not previously used satellite locations for other elections do not need to create them for the April 21 special elections.
Read the full memo here >.
VML Contacts: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org; Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
Budget
Money committees to assemble budget plan amid continuing economic uncertainty
As the General Assembly’s money committees begin their push to finalize decisions about how they plan to amend the introduced budget presented to them last December, they’ll have $521 million from the general fund to help. That’s the amount of money that the Commonwealth has in the bank through January, according to the most recent general fund revenue report. Combined with more than $300 million that former Governor Youngkin left unappropriated at the end of the 2026-28 biennium from his introduced budget, that should help the House Appropriations (HAC) and Senate Finance and Appropriations (SFAC) Committees put a bow on their fiscal packages in the week ahead.
But uncertainty (that fiscal gnat from 2025 just won’t seem to go away!) will undoubtedly weigh on the minds of budgeteers as they pull together their budget plans.
To wit, while the stock market continues to hit new highs it also gyrates as weekly reports on the economy are issued and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on GDP, productivity and employment is assessed.
Nationally, the monthly jobs report exceeded expectations in January, but in the Commonwealth, weekly unemployment claims spiked 71% last week and is running 43% higher than a year ago. Moreover, the impact of federal layoffs, that tend to pay higher than average wages, are beginning to show up in official data months after the impact has been felt in communities across Virginia.
According to recent data from the Bank of America Institute, “In the so-called K-shaped economy, lower-income households are struggling, while those with higher incomes have strengthened their financial positions, mostly through stock gains and homeownership. Now, as middle-income consumers are showing signs of stress, the “K” shape is widening and beginning to look “more like the jaws of a crocodile,” said David Tinsley, senior economist at the Bank of America Institute.”
That’s a metaphor befitting Friday the 13th. Yikes!
Against that unsettling economic backdrop, the money committees will assemble their fiscal plan for the next biennium. A week from Sunday, we’ll know where they think we’re headed.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Costly collective bargaining bill advances; Right to work bill languishes; Bills for lobbying local governments and public hearings for power lines and data centers still in play
SB378 (Surovell) Collective bargaining by public employees; individual home care providers; Virginia Home Care Authority established; Public Employee Relations Board established; exclusive bargaining representatives. Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees. The bill requires public employers and employee organizations that are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The fiscal impact is shown to reach hundreds of millions of dollars. The bill was reported by the Finance and Appropriations Committee, and is headed for floor debate in the Senate. VML opposes the bill, as a costly impact on many localities.
SB32 (Carroll Foy) Denial or abridgement of the right to work; repeal. Would repeal the right to work laws of the Commonwealth. While VML has no position on this in general, the league is concerned about applying the repeal to local government employees, especially public works (garbage, water/sewer), police, fire and education. The bill has not had a hearing in committee, so it is likely to not move forward.
SB50 (Rouse) Lobbying; registration; local governments; penalty. Expands the definition of "lobbying" to include influencing or attempting to influence local government. The Senate approved the bill. It will be heard by the House General Laws Committee.
SB334 (Roem) Conveyances of interests in real property; public hearing required. This bill requires that a public hearing be held for major transmission lines and data centers, along with several other categories of the sale or conveyance by easement by localities. The bill prescribes that the advertising and hearing be done in accordance with the rules for land use actions (two ads). The Senator worked with VML and others to improve it. It is now under consideration by the full Senate.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
Senate and House Courts of Justice Committees
VASAP/ASAP bills amended but short- and long-term funding needs remain an issue
On February 11 both the Senate and House Courts of Justice committees reported amended versions of bills addressing the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) and relatedly, community-based Alcohol Safety Action Programs (ASAPs). Those bills are HB862 (Cousins) and SB391 (Stuart).
The amendments, which were the same for both bills, partially address concerns raised by local governments but a lot of work remains to be done on the underlying issues that brought the bills forward: funding and administration of community-based programs.
Funding is key because the fees upon which the programs run are not keeping up with the costs to operate the programs. VASAP staff said that least one of the community programs – the Bull Run ASAP that encompasses Loudoun and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park – is likely to financially fail in the next year or so unless it gets more funding.
As introduced, the bills would require local governments (counties, cities, and towns) to contribute to the community-based programs. This is a state program, and the clients are mandated by the courts to participate.
Some localities contribute to their community ASAP, and others do not. Some localities say they have never been asked to contribute funding, and some have rejected funding requests citing its status as a state program that is supposed to operate with client fees.
There is no state general fund appropriation for the program; Senator Stuart has filed a budget amendment (Item 3#1s) to provide $50,000 each year to VASAP to help with administrative functions related to proposed changes from legislation; VML supports funding for this program to stabilize it in the short term while a longer-term funding fix is determined.
We were able to get the bills amended to delay the imposition of local financial contributions and the requirement that a local government serve as the fiscal agent for each of the community ASAPs. In the interim, the bills call for a broad-based workgroup to look at the funding and administrative structure and sustainability of the program.
Other components of the bills address administrative updates to the Code of Virginia regarding the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP).
We will continue to follow these bills and budget actions to potentially help the programs for at least the short-term.
VML Contacts: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org; Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
Two bills threatening sovereign immunity no longer an issue, one remains; Landowner rights bill still in play
SB228 (Surovell) Localities; liability insurance; certain waiver of sovereign immunity. States that if a locality provides liability insurance for itself and its employees, then in any action against such the locality, employee, or officer, the local government is deemed to have waived sovereign immunity as a defense. It would have overturned a policy the Commonwealth has followed since its beginning. The bill was carried over to the 2027 session in Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee Thursday.
SB637 (Ebbin) Virginia Human Rights Act; definition of "employer"; sovereign immunity. As amended in Senate General Laws Committee, the bill would waive sovereign immunity for two years after an alleged violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act by a local government, or state agency. The current version makes no mention of sovereign immunity, so that issue is at rest for this year.
HB1220 (Delaney) Photo speed monitoring devices; placement and operation reported elsewhere in eNews also waives sovereign immunity for the limited category of cases brought by a person who receives a civil penalty based on photo speed monitoring devices. The House Transportation Committee reported the bill.
SB504 (Deeds) Vested rights; rulings or orders of the local circuit court. This bill redefines vested rights in certain situations by adding a rule that a court order concerning the rezoning of more than 25 parcels would affect the rights of a landowner, the landowner’s rights remain vested, so long as it is pursuing a project. The bill will be heard by the Senate Courts Committee.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
Transit funding for NOVA bills are dead, but signs point to a resurrection in the budget
As the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee (SFAC) sifted through numerous bills in the last few days, sometimes continuing bills until the 2027 Session (effectively killing them for the year), we were struck by the way they handled several bills that addressed transit funding in northern Virginia.
For example, Senator Deeds emphatically indicated that while SB638 (Ebbin) and SB730 (Surovell), described below, would not move forward this year, the Senate’s budget would include funding to address transit needs in northern Virginia. How much that commitment implies isn’t clear but could approach $150 million in FY 2027. Any additional funds will help in the short run, but the road ahead remains unclear.
SB 638 (Ebbin) Transportation; changes various provisions of existing funds, etc. Proposed to change the distribution of existing transportation funds, including the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Capital Fund, and created new funds for the Northern Virginia Transportation District and the localities embraced by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission for regional transit purposes. The bill imposed a regional sales and use tax for certain localities, a tax on transportation network companies, a tax on retail deliveries, and a tax on regional commercial parking. The bill also imposed a regional highway use fee on all vehicles in the Commonwealth that are subject to the existing highway use fee.
SB 730 (Surovell) - Sales & use tax on taxable services & digital personal property; taxes levied in certain districts. Decreased the sales tax from 4.3% to 4.0% but expanded it to other services including digital property beginning on January 1, 2027. The also imposed (i) an additional sales tax in any county or city that is a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission at the rate of 0.385 percent; any county or city that is embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority but that is not a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission at the rate of 0.615 percent; and any county or city that is a member of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission at the rate of 0.2 percent; (ii) a retail delivery fee in the amount of 20 cents upon each retail delivery, made in any county or city located within the Northern Virginia Transportation District or the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission; and (iii) a regional highway use fee on all vehicles in the Commonwealth that are subject to the existing highway use fee.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
Photo speed enforcement bill to SUPPORT: SB84 establishes reasonable new requirements
SB84 (Williams Graves) Speed safety cameras, pedestrian crossing violation monitoring systems, and stop sign violation monitoring systems; placement and operation; violation enforcement; civil penalties.
SB84 reported from the Committee on Senate Finance and Appropriations and establishes new requirements for localities operating a photo speed enforcement program. These include:
- Localities must deposit fees and fines collected from a violations under a photo speed program in a local fund to be used for traffic, bicycle and pedestrian improvements with priority given to school and work zones where photo speed programs are in operation.
- Two signs must be posted before a photo speed camera including one that displays vehicle speed in real time.
- Daily testing of photo speed monitoring devices.
- New information to be included in a summons for a violation issued such as how to contest a citation, proof of calibration of speed cameras, a limitation on the fees vendors can charge, standards for the calibration of speed cameras by third party vendors and penalties for any violations.
The bill also requires a 30-day warning period prior to the issuance of any fees or penalties for violations, an annual review by the locality of the impacts of the program on the community, public awareness information on the police department’s website to answer questions about the program and how to contest violations.
Finally, the includes a new reporting date of November 15 and new reporting requirements including the change in summons issued over time, projects funded by fees and fines collected under the program, total vehicle throughput.
Senate Local Government Committee
Bills that will likely be heard in Senate Local Government
Note – unless otherwise noted, all bills below are currently in the Senate Local Government Committee.
HB135 (Simon) Virginia Code Commission; extends subdivision plats work group. This work group met over the summer and needs more time, so it is extended for one more year.
HB164 (Thomas) Housing for local employees; grants for homeownership. Eliminates the maximum grant amount authorized for localities to provide to local employees for homeownership.
HB177 (Anthony) Fee for passing bad checks to localities; payment order not paid by recipient. Modernizes the ability of localities to impose a fee for passing of an unauthorized fee or payment order to include a bad check.
HB257 (Simonds) Comprehensive plan; social determinants of health. Encourages localities to consider how social determinants of health impact the locality’s overall public health and access to health care services in their comprehensive plan.
HB277 (Seibold) Zoning; wireless communications infrastructure, application process. States that no locality shall disapprove of an application for wireless communication infrastructure if certain criteria are met and increases the minimum height from 50 feet to 150 feet for non-administrative review-eligible projects.
HB352 (Thomas) Local authority; authorized by ordinance to establish affordable housing performance grant programs. Localities with an Economic or Industrial Development Authority may establish by ordinance an affordable housing performance grant program.
HB388 (Callsen) Powers of service districts; control of invasive plants. Allows local service districts to control invasive plants.
HB594 (Simonds) Expedited approval for certain affordable housing developments. Says that Localities may adopt an ordinance to create an administrative process to approve rezoning applications for affordable housing developments.
HB711 (Herring) Solar facilities; local regulation, special exceptions. Provides that a ground-mounted solar energy generation facility to be located on property zoned agricultural, commercial, industrial, or institutional shall be permitted pursuant to various criteria to be included in a local ordinance, such as specifications for setbacks, fencing, solar panel height, visual impacts, and grading, and a decommissioning plan for solar energy equipment and facilities, unless otherwise permitted by right.
HB802 (Carr) Vacant buildings; registration by registered agents, etc., annually. Allows industrial development authorities to exercise their powers with respect to facilities used to promote safe and affordable housing to include issuing bonds.
HB804 (Helmer) Statewide housing targets for localities. Requires localities to increase their total housing stock; provides targets and mandatory plans that have to be implemented.
HB816 (Helmer) Zoning; by-right multifamily development. Requires a locality to add to the zoning ordinance by-right development and construction of multifamily residential areas in commercial or business zoning districts.
HB876 (Shin) Zoning; wireless facilities, temporary support structures. Localities must allow in its zoning ordinances an allowance for the use of temporary support structures for portable wireless communications facilities for a prescribed number of days and a process to extend the time.
HB888 (Shin) Zoning; minimum off-street parking requirements in certain areas. This bill is extremely prescriptive and outlines where and based upon what criteria a locality can require off-street parking along with the number of off-street parking spaces.
HB1130 (Reid) Workforce housing for employees of a locality or school board; lease of surplus property. Allows a local governing body or school board to lease surplus or underutilized property for workforce housing.
HB1144 (Martinez) Water and sewer connection fees; first-time homebuyers, affordable housing. This bill was amended to allow for localities to provide for full or partial reimbursement to a first-time homebuyer of water and sewer connection fees, capital recovery changes, and availability fees. It can include eligibility criteria. If your locality has an affordable dwelling unit ordinance the same applies.
HB1212 (Sewell) Zoning; small lot residential districts. Requires localities with a population of 20,000 or more to adopt a zoning district classification that permits single-family dwellings as by-right uses on lots with a minimum lot area not exceeding 3,000 square feet. This bill is currently on the floor of the House.
HB1234 (Sewell) Land development; solar canopies in parking areas, definition.
This legislation sets out the requirements for localities to have the ability to require solar canopies in qualifying parking areas. This bill is currently on the floor of the House.
HB1404 (Guzman) Appointment of youth representative to a local governing body. Allows local governing bodies to appoint a youth representative to serve as a nonvoting member of the governing body.
HB1463 (Thomas) Zoning; nonconforming uses; manufactured homes. Provides that a landowner may place a manufactured home upon any open lot in a valid nonconforming mobile or manufactured home park regardless of whether a valid nonconforming manufactured home is located on the lot with guardrails. This bill is currently on the floor of the House.
VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
Statewide plan for juvenile detention carried over to 2027
The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted on Feb. 11 to carry over until 2027 SB468 (Marsden) Juvenile secure detention facilities; placement of juveniles referred from another locality; high-needs or high-risk juveniles; funding. This bill would have added prescriptive elements regarding local and regional juvenile detention centers to the Department of Juvenile Justice’s statewide plan.
Some of the elements of the bill of concern to VML included having a state plan set bed requirements and which localities would be served by each local facility and imposing financial penalties on local facilities in certain circumstances.
VML has a legislative position supporting the authority of local governments to operate local and regional juvenile detention facilities as appropriate for their communities.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee
Bills VML previously reported on but will not be further reported on in 2026
HB1122 (Reid) Vested rights. Altered the criteria for determining when a landowner's rights shall be vested in land use. Status: Continued to 2027.
HB262 (Simonds) Minimum parking requirements; prohibition on mandates by localities. Removes the ability of localities to require parking spaces for any new or existing building, structure, or other use. Status: Incorporated into HB888 (Shin).
HB278 (Clark) Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Allows localities to create an ordinance including anti-rent gouging provisions and adds penalties. Status: Continued to 2027.
HB370 (Reid) Industrial use facilities; local authority on requiring water consumption in zoning ordinance. Allows a locality to include in it is zoning ordinance the ability to require proposed industrial and commercial facilities to submit water consumption estimates and public resources when applying for rezoning and special use permit. Status: Continued to 2027.
HB418 (Cole) Zoning; manufactured housing. Amends existing provisions that require localities to permit manufactured housing in areas zoned for agricultural purposes. Status: Incorporated into HB655 (Maldonado).
HB419 (Cole) Approval of land use applications; residential development. Requires localities to take final action to approve, approve with conditions, or deny any land use application for rezoning or development of property that includes residential within 12 months from the submission of the application. Status: Continued to 2027.
HB535 (Hamilton) Review of plats and plans by locality; designated agent. Stipulates that localities with a population of 20,000 or less may use its planning commission as the designated agent for reviewing and acting on plats, site plans and plans of development. Status: Laid on the table.
HB611 (Cohen) Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units. States that localities must include in their zoning ordinances for single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units as a permitted accessory use. Status: Continued to 2027.
HB708 (Thomas) Timely local decision on certain land use permits; incentives and penalties. Stipulates that localities shall take final action to approve or deny applications within 12 months. Status: Stricken from docket.
House Courts of Justice Committee
Law enforcement duty to render aid and contesting zoning land use decisions bills to be heard
HB273 (Helmer) Law-enforcement officers; duty to render aid upon danger to life or limb; civil immunity. Provides that a law-enforcement officer, while engaged in the performance of his duties, has a duty to render aid to any person that he observes suffering from a serious bodily injury or life-threatening condition as circumstances objectively permit. The bill provides immunity for such officers from civil liability for any acts or omissions that are not due to gross negligence or willful misconduct resulting from the rendering of such aid. The House passed the bill and it will now be considered by the Senate Courts Committee.
HB447 (Simon) Contesting local governing body or board of zoning appeals land use decisions; third-party standing requirements. Creates standing for any person who has alleged with particularity and proven by clear and convincing evidence that he (i) has an immediate, pecuniary, and substantial interest in the litigation, and not a remote or indirect interest; (ii) owns or occupies real property within or in close proximity to the property that is the subject of the land use determination; and (iii) has suffered (a) a particularized harm to a personal or property right, legal or equitable, or (b) an imposition of a burden or obligation different from that suffered by the general public. The bill is now being considered by the House Courts Committee.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
House Education Committee
At-Risk and special education students bill passes committee
HB92 (Rasoul) Equity in public school funding and staffing; special education students; at-risk students; English language learner students. As substituted, would create and codify the At-Risk program to support students that are educationally at risk as well as create an add-on for special education students.
This bill passed House Education Committee on a vote of 19 to 2.
VML Contacts: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org; Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
House Finance Committee
Final bill that would have reduced car tax revenues for localities dies in subcommittee
HB 566 (McNamara) Tangible personal property tax relief; rate of taxation. As expected, Delegate McNamara’s bill reducing car tax revenues to localities was laid on the table in House Finance Subcommittee #2 late Tuesday afternoon. This bill was one of the last vehicles remaining that proposed to reduce the amount of revenue that localities can collect from the personal property or car tax.
Testifying in opposition to the bill, VML staff reminded the subcommittee how much localities receive from the tax and how it is used flexibly in our communities. We also reiterated our support for HJ34 (Franklin), a resolution to assess the implications of repealing the car tax on localities, before proceeding.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
One-percent local option sales tax for schools bill tabled in committee
HB1156 (Hodges) Additional local sales and use tax to support schools; referendum. Would authorize all localities (including towns with their own school divisions) to impose a sales and use tax of up to one percent if approved by voter referendum.
This bill was tabled in House Finance Committee.
VML Contacts: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org; Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
House Labor and Commerce Committee
Prevailing wage for public works bill improved, but more needs to be done
HB569 (Feggans) Prevailing wage rate for public works contracts; localities. Requires all contractors doing work for a city, town, or county to pay the prevailing wage rate, consistent with the federal Davis-Bacon Act. VML is concerned about the financial impact of the legislation on the operations of local governments. The bill will increase the cost of carrying out the functions of local governments: the fiscal impact shows an average of $6.2M per year. The subcommittee approved a substitute version that is better, but not great. Bill Hefty, representing the procurement association, accomplished most of the helpful changes. The patron told us yesterday he is willing to continue work to improve the bill.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
House Privileges and Elections Committee
Satellite offices bill fails; Dual office holding, ranked choice voting, and penalty for impersonating elected officials bills pass
HB71 (Reaser) Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation. Would authorize the governing body of all cities and counties to establish the dates and times voting satellite locations may be operational. This would be a change from the local electoral board having authority.
This bill was continued to 2027 by the full committee.
HB505 (McAuliff) Counties, cities, and towns; dual office holding; members of governing body not to hold certain employment. As substituted, HB505 now states that any member of a governing body in a locality that was employed by a governmental agency in that locality, has a continued personal interest for two years. With a personal interest, the member of the governing body, which was a former employee, cannot vote on any matters that may benefit their former employment agency. This codifies for former employees what is already in statute for current employees.
This bill was reported from the full committee on a vote of 12 to 8 as substituted.
HB630 (Callsen) Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Would expand the ability to conduct elections using ranked-choice voting methods to all governing bodies which now include towns. This bill maintains ranked-choice voting as a permissive choice.
This bill was reported from the full committee on a vote of 14 to 6.
HB1150 (Hodges) Impersonating any local, town, city, or county elected official; penalty would prohibit any person from falsely assuming or exercising the functions, powers, and duties of any local town, city, or county elected official. Willfully impersonating any local elected official is now a Class 1 Misdemeanor.
This bill passed unanimously out of the full committee.
VML Contacts: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org; Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
House Public Safety Committee
Firearm Give-Back Program bill passes House; Police Chief Bill of Rights bill fails
HB702 (Cole) Virginia Firearm Give-Back Program and Fund established. This bill requires all local law enforcement agencies to adopt a gun buy-back program, with exceptions for weapons that are evidence in a criminal prosecution. This was asked for by the City of Fredericksburg. The bill passed in the House.
HB1388 (Cherry) Police Chief Bill of Rights would have created a bill of rights for police chiefs, similar to the law for police officers. A subcommittee carried the bill over, so it is no longer an issue this session.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
House Transportation Committee
Bills that will erode local sovereign immunity to be heard next week!
HB1220 and HB1330 will be on the House Floor early next week
HB1220 (Delaney) and HB1330 (Seibold) seek to bring greater consistency to how photo speed monitoring programs will operate in Virginia. HOWEVER, they include a provision that would expose localities to significant new liability for operating a photo speed monitoring program.
Reasons to OPPOSE HB1220 and HB1330 in their present form:
- If HB1220 and HB1330 pass in their present form, localities will have to make the difficult decision of either accepting significant new liability or canceling their photo speed enforcement programs.
- Photo speed enforcement is an important tool for making communities safer at a time when pedestrian safety is a priority for cities across Virginia.
- Many localities that operate photo speed enforcement programs have seen the positive community impact of these programs with decreased speeds, fewer fatalities, and less severe crashes.
While we cannot support the erosion of sovereign immunity that is included in both bills, VML supports the other proposed changes in HB1220 and HB1330 which will continue to improve how these programs are administered, provide a uniform summons (among other proposals) to bring greater consistency to these programs, and address concerns raised by the Virginia Crime Commission.
Action requested:
Please contact your delegate and ask them to OPPOSE HB1220 and HB1330 in their present form and encourage them to amend the bills so that the language eroding sovereign immunity is removed.
A full list of members of the House of Delegates with contact information is available here >.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
VML News
Pre-Conference afternoon of programming being added to Small Towns Conference happening in May
The Small Towns Conference provides an overview of topics related to local government management specifically geared towards small town issues. This conference invites elected officials, including council members and mayors, town managers, and leadership staff to learn, network, and share resources and ideas.
This year the Small Towns Conference will be held May 14-15 at the Chincoteague Center.
Make plans to arrive early, as we are planning a special afternoon of land use sessions for May 13. Details are coming together and will be posted soon!
Additional lodging options, information, and agendas will be posted to VML’s website here as they become available.
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
“If I Were Mayor” essay contest open to 7th and 8th graders
Deadline to submit entries is March 23
The Virginia Municipal League (VML) invites all eligible Virginia 7th and 8th Graders to join its “If I were Mayor” essay contest.
Regional winners selected from around the state will each receive a $150 gift card and a plaque. One statewide winner chosen from the regional winners will receive a $250 gift card and a plaque. The runner-up from the region that receives the statewide award will become that region’s winner.
Winning essays will be featured in the May/June issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City.
Learn more about the contest and how to submit entries here >.
VML Contact: Manuel Timbreza, mtimbreza@vml.org
Opportunities
Complete the 2025 Local Residential Construction Fees Survey
The link to the 2025 Local Residential Construction Fees Survey is live and available here: 2025 Local Residential Construction Fees Survey.
Section 15.2-2209.3 of the Code of Virginia requires localities with populations greater than 3,500 to provide information on fees for processing, reviewing, and permitting of applications for residential land development and construction activities, including fees connected to individual residential developments for the 2025 calendar year (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025).
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Commission on Local Government (CLG) are asking the chief administrative officers or designee in each affected county, city, and town to provide essential information about the fee collection policies in the locality. The 2025 survey remains largely unchanged from the 2024 survey. Definitions and additional points of clarification have been added to assist with the completion of the survey. Submitted survey responses will be made available to the public on the DHCD website. The deadline for completing the survey is March 1, 2026.
Please contact DHCD as soon as possible if your locality anticipates difficulties with complying with the March 1 deadline.
DHCD Contact: Joseph Dennie, joseph.dennie@dhcd.virginia.gov
Register for Virginia Housing's Community Impact Sessions
Virginia Housing is back on the road for another Community Impact Session series in 2026!
In February and March, Virginia Housing will offer six opportunities to join an in-person overview of Virginia Housing’s programs and how they support communities in developing affordable and workforce housing.
These sessions will feature presentations from Virginia Housing staff and other partners, along with a chance for you to offer feedback and input about your needs and the challenges your region faces.
Registration is required to attend, and capacity is limited. Dates, locations and registration links for each Community Impact Session are as follows:
- Feb. 24 - Kilmarnock, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- Feb. 25 - Chesapeake, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- Feb. 26 - Warrenton, 1 - 3 p.m. (Register here)
- March 3 - Lexington, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- March 4 - St. Paul, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- March 5 - South Boston, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
Those interested in receiving regular updates from Virginia Housing can sign up for the Strategic Housing Newsletter for updates and announcements.
Virginia Housing Contact: Luke Tate, Luke.Tate@VirginiaHousing.com
Deadline to apply for National Civic League’s Virginia 2026 All-America City Award extended to March 4
To help accommodate the many competing priorities communities are navigating, the National Civic League (NCL) has extended the application deadline for the 2026 All-America City Award to March 5, 2026. This additional time is intended to give communities more flexibility to refine their applications and fully tell their civic story.
Open Office Hours
To further support applicants, the program is hosting three informal open office hours to answer questions about the application process. These sessions are designed to be flexible; participants are welcome to join for a few minutes or stay for the full hour and may attend one or all sessions.
Office Hours Schedule:
- February 13 at 1:00 PM ET
- February 20 at 1:00 PM ET
Register here: AAC Open Office Hours
If none of these times work for you, applicants are encouraged to email Rebecca Trout to schedule a one-on-one conversation.
These opportunities are intended to help communities feel confident, prepared, and supported as they complete their applications.
About the All-America City Award:
The theme for 2026 is “America at 250: Strengthening Civic Health and Building Trust.” NCL is seeking communities that are bringing our founding ideals to life by ensuring that people have the power and opportunity to shape their collective future.
Apply here >.
VML Executive Director Michelle Gowdy, who was recently appointed to the NCL board, encourages all VML member localities to apply to join the 21 communities from Virginia that have previously won the All-America City Award!
You can view the full list of past recipients here.
NCL Contact: Rebecca Trout, rebeccat@ncl.org
Register for Virginia Housing's Community Impact Sessions
Virginia Housing is back on the road for another Community Impact Session series in 2026!
In February and March, Virginia Housing will offer six opportunities to join an in-person overview of Virginia Housing’s programs and how they support communities in developing affordable and workforce housing.
These sessions will feature presentations from Virginia Housing staff and other partners, along with a chance for you to offer feedback and input about your needs and the challenges your region faces.
Registration is required to attend, and capacity is limited. Dates, locations and registration links for each Community Impact Session are as follows:
- Feb. 24 - Kilmarnock, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- Feb. 25 - Chesapeake, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- Feb. 26 - Warrenton, 1 - 3 p.m. (Register here)
- March 3 - Lexington, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- March 4 - St. Paul, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
- March 5 - South Boston, 10 a.m. - noon (Register here)
Those interested in receiving regular updates from Virginia Housing can sign up for the Strategic Housing Newsletter for updates and announcements.
Virginia Housing Contact: Luke Tate, Luke.Tate@VirginiaHousing.com
Grant funding opportunity: 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grants – Apply by March 4
Are you working on a project to make your community more livable for residents of all ages? AARP is now accepting applications for the 2026 Community Challenge grant program, and they encourage your organization to apply.
Since 2017, this program has funded over 2,100 "quick-action" projects across the country that spark long-term change. Whether you are looking to improve public spaces, increase housing options, or boost digital literacy, there is likely a funding opportunity for you.
Grant opportunities for 2026
AARP is offering three distinct grant tiers to support different project scales:
- Flagship Grants: Typical awards range from a few hundred dollars to $15,000 for projects involving public spaces, transportation, housing, or disaster resilience.
- Capacity-Building Microgrants: $2,500 grants that include technical coaching and resources for Walk/Bike Audits, home modifications (HomeFit®), or disaster training.
- Demonstration Grants: Awards up to $25,000 for replicable projects focused on pedestrian safety, high-speed internet access, or housing design.
Key deadlines & dates
- Public Q&A Webinar: January 27, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET (Register Here)
- Application Deadline: March 4, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET
- Project Completion: All projects must be finished by December 15, 2026.
Who should apply?
The program is open to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofits, as well as government entities. Projects should deliver tangible improvements that benefit residents—especially those age 50 and older—in areas like walkability, affordable and accessible housing and transportation, and community engagement.
How to apply & additional information
Applications must be submitted through the online portal. You can find the full application requirements, scoring criteria, and sample applications at the link below:
www.aarp.org/communitychallenge
Contact: Timothy Bothe, 804-344-3042, tbothe@aarp.org