eNews – March 10, 2026
Please send a letter to the Governor to VETO collective bargaining bills, Oppose land use bills, Budget talks moving slow...and more!
Tuesday, March 10, 2026/Categories: eNews
This edition of eNews is sponsored by OpenGov the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S. Learn more >
VML’s 2026 General Assembly resources can be found on our website here >.
In this issue:
Action Alert
Budget
House Appropriations Committee
VML News
Opportunities
Action Alerts
Please send a letter to Governor Spanberger to VETO the collective bargaining bills
With some version of HB1263 (Tran) / SB378 (Surovell) almost certainly headed to the Governor’s desk, it is imperative to make local voices heard. The fiscal impact of these bills on localities is shown to reach nearly a billion dollars! VML opposes the legislation as a costly impact on many localities and a curtailment of local authority over employment decisions.
VML has created a letter you can adapt to suit your needs. Please consider sending the letter to Governor Spanberger (abigail.spanberger@governor.virginia.gov) as soon as possible.
View/Download the letter here >.
When you send the letter, please CC the following individuals:
Legislation summary:
HB1263 (Tran) / SB378 (Surovell) Collective bargaining by public employees; individual home care providers; Virginia Home Care Authority established; Public Employee Relations Board established; exclusive bargaining representatives. Requires all local governments to recognize unions for collective bargaining. Both HB1263 and SB378 continue the existing law that prohibits public employees from striking. The bills create 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 bills also require 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 nearly a billion dollars.
The House passed HB1263 which is now being considered by the Senate. SB378 and HB1263 will need to be worked out between the two houses of the General Assembly.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
OPPOSE: HB1279 / SB388 would make monumental changes to land use policy
HB1279 (Cole, J.G.) / SB388 (McPike) Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.
What these bills do:
HB1279 / SB388 require the administrative approval of development and construction on certain tax-exempt properties to include religious organizations if the locality has adopted a zoning ordinance. Mixed-use or residential projects shall be permitted by-right, if there is an existing water and sewer line within 500 feet of the property. For example, a building could be as high as 45 feet high and have retail businesses operating in them despite being non-profits! In addition, only 60% of the units have to be affordable.
Reasons to OPPOSE HB1279 / SB388:
- Allow certain non-profit organizations and religious organizations to build by-right housing on their property.
- Strip local zoning authority and undermine comprehensive planning.
- Neighbors of these properties will not have the ability to provide input – only an administrative approval is needed.
- Fail to account for water and sewer capacity – only proximity.
- Very prescriptive rules about height and size with no discretion.
Action Requested:
Please contact the Senate and House conferees (below) and ask them to OPPOSE AND/OR SUPPORT REENACTMENT FOR HB1279 / SB388.
Senate Conferees:
House Conferees:
VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
Budget
Budget talks off to a slow start as Sine Die looms
As the 2026 Session of the General Assembly nears the finish line, it appears that the conferees responsible for completing the budget have yet to make it out of the blocks. Now the question on everyone’s mind is whether a budget can be finished on time or whether we’re in for another lap or two.
The holdup, as most folks should be aware, is the billion-dollar, bottom line difference between the House and Senate budgets. That disparity was created when the Senate decided to sunset the Commonwealth’s billion-dollar sales tax enticement to data centers to set up shop in the Old Dominion. Expected to cost a few million annually, the economic incentive is now projected to total well north of one billion annually in foregone revenues to the state.
Additional revenues from sunsetting the exemption on January 1, 2027 are baked into the Senate’s budget but not the House version, which leaves the sales tax exemption for data centers unchanged.
As budget conferees have noted, until that resource difference is bridged, it is hard to make progress on spending matters. Absent any agreement to sit down and discuss the issue of data centers, and more specifically, the sales tax exemption, progress will remain elusive. No budget discussion means no budget decisions.
Complicating matters, at least for the Senate, it appears that the Spanberger Administration is siding with the House on the data center exemption, concerned that backing away from this economic incentive may jeopardize the expansion of data center operations in the Commonwealth. Not surprisingly, large business interests are also beginning to throw their weight around. Of course, Virginia already holds the trophy as data center capital of the world, so it seems worth asking how many data centers are enough?
In 2023, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) completed a comprehensive review of the impact of data centers in the Commonwealth. An assessment of the fiscal impact of this growing industry on Virginia’s revenues by the money committees was sure to follow. But lawmakers must decide if a few days in budget conference before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment is enough or more time is required to wrestle with this important policy issue. We should know soon.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
One percent local option sales tax for schools: Support inclusion of debt servicing option
HB334 (Rasoul) would allow all cities and counties to impose a sales and use tax of up to one percent dedicated solely to school construction. HB334 also allowed the revenues from the one percent to be used for previous school construction indebtedness. This bill was continued to the 2027 General Assembly session as similar language is included in the Senate budget.
However, the language in the Senate budget does not allow funds to be used for previous debt and has non-supplant provision. Without debt services and additional non-supplant provision, the tax may be unusable for some localities.
If you are interested in having this authority and would like to use it for debt services, please contact the budget conferees with the request to add the language from HB334 and SB33 into the final budget. For additional information or talking points, see VML’s one-pager here.
Budget Conferees
VML Contacts: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org; Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.og
House Appropriations Committee
Bills that died this week: Local government lobbying; public hearings for conveyances of real property
SB50 (Rouse) Lobbying; registration; local governments; penalty. Expands the definition of lobbying to include influencing or attempting to influence local government. The House Appropriations Committee tabled the bill, so it will not move forward. This is a good result for local governments.
SB334 (Roem) Conveyances of interests in real property; public hearing required. The bill would have required that a public hearing be held whenever a locality is planning to sell land or convey a permanent easement or right-of-way for 1. major transmission lines over 69 kilovolts, 2. data center utilities and power lines serving the center over 69 kilovolts, and 3. power lines over 69 kilovolts for any commercial or industrial facility. The House Appropriations Committee tabled the bill, so it will not move forward.
VML Contact: Mark Flynn, markkflynn@gmail.com
VML News
Small Towns Conference and “Local Workshop” coming to Chincoteague May 13-15
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.
Lodging options, registration, and more information about the 2026 Small Town’s Conference is available on VML’s website here.
Pre-Conference Offering – May 13
We know that Chincoteague is a bit of a drive for many of our members, so for those arriving early there will be a special afternoon of programming on May 13 beginning at 1:00pm followed by a reception that evening. Please join us if you are able!
Local Workshop: Tools & Materials for Building Communities
What are the tools and materials used for building and revitalizing communities? How can you make informed decisions that positively affect the growth of your community? This interactive workshop will provide a better understanding of the many components of community building, such as zoning & land use, transportation, historic preservation, placemaking & open space planning, and economic development.
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
Virginia Municipal Clerks Association Annual Conference: April 15-17
The Town of Blacksburg and members of the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association (VMCA) Region IV are pleased to host the 49th Annual Conference of the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association, to be held April 15–17, 2026, at The Inn at Virginia Tech.
The preliminary agenda is available here >.
Registration and additional information, including a link to reserve rooms, are available on the VMCA website here >.
VMCA Contact: Lorranie Spaulding, lspaulding@blacksburg.gov
Free webinar March 25: Continuing education for law enforcement and public safety professionals
Join VML Community Business Member organization* American Military University (AMU) for Education in Action: An AMU Alum Spotlight, a live webinar for law enforcement officers and public safety professionals.
*AMU is part of the American Public University system.
During this session, AMU alumnus Henry J. Giammarco, Jr., Chief of Police for the Yeadon, Pennsylvania Police Department, will share his career journey and how his AMU education helped him reach his goals in public safety.
- Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM EST
- Registration: Register here >
What you’ll learn:
- How AMU's flexible online format fits into the life of a working public safety professional
- Ways to save on career-relevant education
- How education can support your career goals
Promotional flyer available here >.
Save your spot today to hear one professional’s experience firsthand.
AMU Contact: Matt Hoffman, mhoffman@apus.edu
Main Street Now 2026: Discounted rate for civic leaders
Civic leaders can attend the 2026 Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, OK (April 13-15) for as little as $200. The civic leader rate also includes tailored content, special sessions, and invaluable network-building opportunities.
This is a professional development opportunity for civic leaders looking to boost their impact and role in the success of their local Main Street:
- Connect with hundreds of elected officials and government administrators from across the county
- Explore proven strategies and innovative solutions to address pressing issues in communities of all sizes — choose from 100+ sessions, including a curated civic leaders education track
- Learn strategies for building durable Main Streets through civic leader support at this year's Civic Leaders Forum, featuring a dynamic panel discussion with local Oklahoma officials:
- Heather Turner, Deputy CEO, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Executive Director, CORE
- Representative Mark Lawson, Majority Leader, Oklahoma House of Representatives
- Canaan J. Duncan, Deputy Secretary of State, Cherokee Nation
- Anthony Archie, Councilor, District 2, Tulsa City Council
- Kelsey Wagner, Mayor, Ponca City
SIGN UP HERE >
DETAILS:
- When: April 13-15, 2026
- Where: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Civic Leader Rate: $200 online (open through April 6), $299 on-site
- Who Qualifies: Elected officials and senior government staff, including mayors, county executives, city councilmembers, elected municipal leaders, staff at the director level and above in Main Street-related departments (i.e., economic development, planning, historic preservation, etc.).
Have questions? FAQs available here >
Main Street Contact: info@mainstreet.org. Kindly allow up to 72 hours for a response.
Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative: Free workshop in Williamsburg April 21
The Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative is hosting a free workshop on Tuesday, April 21 for a workshop discussing NOAA’s updates to geodetic vertical datums and tidal datums.
Vertical datums are the baseline standards from which we derive land elevation and marine-based measurements like mean low water, mean high water, and mean sea level. NOAA and the National Geodetic Survey are in the process of updating vertical and tidal datums. Several of these derived measurements are addressed in state a local government codes and ordinances.
This workshop will focus on a project funded by NOAA through the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, where references to tidal datums, vertical datums, and their derived measurements were catalogued and assessed for potential impacts from pending updates.
Topics will include background on datums and their use in state and local codes in Virginia; how the VCRC, VIMS, and CBNERR-VA approached this research and catalogued references; the results of an analysis of these changes on Virginia state and local laws; and discussion on possible ways to address these impacts.
The workshop will be held from 9:30am to 1:00pm at William & Mary’s School of Education at 301 Monticello Ave, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Registration is free and lunch will be provided. Following various presentations on aspects of the project and preliminary conclusions, ample time for discussion is built in to garner feedback on next steps and address questions. We encourage you to share this event with your networks, particularly state and local government officials and employees, and planning district commissions who will see the most impact from these updates.
REGISTRATION: You can use this link to register for the workshop.
FLYER: A PDF promotional flyer is available here >.
AGENDA: A PDF of the workshop agenda is available here and on the VCRC website.
Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative Contact: Thomas Ruppert, tkruppert@wm.edu
NeighborWorks Ground-Up Emerging Developers Training in Richmond: March 30 - April 3
Virginia Housing is proud to partner with NeighborWorks America to host the NeighborWorks Ground-Up Emerging Developers Training in Richmond from Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3.
This multi-day professional development experience is designed to support aspiring affordable housing developers across the Commonwealth. The training will feature industry experts who will give emerging developers the tools, strategies and technical knowledge needed to deliver successful, sustainable affordable housing projects.
Topics include strategic thinking, building a development team and progressing from initial concept to final blueprint.
Registration is required to attend, and capacity is limited!
Register and View Trainings here >.
Virginia Housing Contact: Housingeducation@virginiahousing.com
Registration now open: Salute to Service honors Virginia Veterans at Virginia War Memorial, March 21
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Virginia War Memorial (621 South Belvidere Street | Richmond, VA 23220)
Registration is now open for all Virginia Veterans and those who support them for the inaugural “Salute to Service Reunion Celebration” a day-long program of remembrance, honor, and reconnection.
Highlights of the event include the premiere of Decisive Victory: Operation Desert Storm, a new documentary produced in partnership with Blue Ridge PBS, a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the seven Virginians killed in action in this conflict, unit rally points, musical performances by the West Point Alumni Glee Club, and a panel discussion offering firsthand perspectives on the Operation Desert Storm conflict and its lasting legacy.
Panelists include:
- James Henry Binford “Binnie” Peay III, General, USA (Ret.)
- John P. Jumper, General, USAF (Ret).
- Barry R. McCaffrey, General, USA (Ret.)
- Robert B. Flowers, Lieutenant General, USA (Ret.)
- Michelle Rose, Major General, USA (Ret.)
- Moderated by Michael S. Bell, Colonel, USA (Ret.), Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at the National WWII Museum.
The 2026 gathering marks the first veteran reunion of its kind hosted at the Virginia War Memorial and launches the Salute to Service Reunion series, a multi-year program with future reunions planned for Vietnam War veterans in 2027, Global War on Terrorism veterans in 2028, and Cold War–Fall of the Berlin Wall veterans in 2029.
The event is free to attend for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm Veterans and a guest. Additional guests and supporters are $25 to attend. Advance registration is required as space is limited.
MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION HERE >
All program fees support the Salute to Service Reunion Celebration.
Contact: info@vawarmemorial.org