eNews – September 11, 2026
Governor Spanberger and Senator Kaine to speak at Annual Conference, Innovation Award Winners announced, Workgroups and committees updates...and more!
Friday, September 11, 2026/Categories: eNews
On this 25th anniversary of the terrible events of September 11, 2001, the Virginia Municipal League remembers the first responders whose selfless service that day, and the days that followed, helped to begin healing our nation. To those who were there then, and to those who stand ready to serve today, Thank You.
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In this issue:
VML News
Finance
FOIA
Elections
Health & Human Resources
Education
VML News Board – Recent Posts
VML News
Annual Conference & Mayors Institute: Featured speakers and preliminary agenda!
In case you missed the Special Edition of eNews that went out yesterday afternoon, VML is pleased to announce that Governor Abigail Spanberger will be speaking to our members on the morning of Tuesday, October 13. Now, we are also pleased to announce that Senator Tim Kaine will be joining us that morning as well!
Also just confirmed: Attendees of the Mayors Institute (October 10-11) will hear from U.S. Navy Veteran and member of the Town of Amherst Council Ventris Gibson who will speak about her 40 years in Federal Government in executive and professional positions, including serving as Director of the U.S. Mint from October 2021 until her retirement in March 2025.
The Preliminary Agenda for both the Annual and Conference and Mayors Institute is now available on the event page here >.
Please note: For this year’s Annual Business Meeting, please be sure to review the draft policy proposals posted at the top of each policy committee website page before the meeting. Paper copies will not be made available at the meeting. Links to the committee pages are here. Thank you!
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
Winners of 2026 Innovation Awards announced!
The Virginia Municipal League (VML) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual awards for excellence in local government. The statewide competition recognizes innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, citizen participation, and improved services to citizens.
Of this year’s Innovation Awards, VML Executive Director Michelle Gowdy says: “We received more entries this year than ever. The judges remarked several times that their work was particularly difficult due to the sheer number of excellent projects submitted. All of which is to say: Great job VML members! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who made this a big year for innovation in Virginia!”
One of the category winners will also receive the President’s Award for Innovation. This additional award will be announced at the Awards Banquet on Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott during the 2026 VML Annual Conference.
The winners of the 2026 Innovation Awards are:
- COMMUNICATIONS: CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG – Still Making History
- COMMUNITY HEALTH: CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS – Care Where You Are: Community Health Bus
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: TOWN OF CULPEPER – Heritage Park
- ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: CITY OF PORTSMOUTH – ROC the Block: Reclaiming our Community One Block at a Time
- PUBLIC SAFETY: JAMES CITY COUNTY – RESTORe-CARE
- RISK MANAGEMENT: CITY OF NORFOLK – Risk Management Day-Community Outreach
- WORKING WITH YOUTH: CITY OF COVINGTON – Discover STEM Hands on Student Education
Read the full press release here >
VML Contact: Manuel Timbreza, mtimbreza@vml.org
VML submits objections to Verizon’s proposal to discontinue copper-based landline phone service
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requested public comments on Verizon’s application to discontinue traditional copper-based landline phone service in Virginia. VML submitted a letter to the FCC, opposing this action and requesting the FCC remove this application from the streamlined review process.
On August 26, the FCC released a public notice accepting Verizon’s application to discontinue traditional copper-based landline phone service in the Commonwealth of Virginia as early as October 23, 2026. Eliminating copper-based service could leave many Virginia localities and residents with fewer reliable options for routine and emergency communications.
Notwithstanding its potential magnitude, this application has been placed on a streamlined FCC docket. If this application is not removed from the streamlined review process, Verizon’s application will be automatically approved on September 26.
For additional information:
VML Contact: Jessica Dennis, jdennis@vml.org
Finance
TAX Department solicits local Input on fiscal impact of mandatory property tax exemptions
As the cost of providing state-mandated property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their families continues to grow unabated, the Commonwealth is poised to examine the issue more closely and provide recommendations to state lawmakers about the program’s growth.
Local government officials now have the opportunity to weigh in and explain how the growth of mandatory property tax exemptions is forcing local budget officials to make increasingly difficult choices about their community’s funding needs.
Survey responses needed by September 21, 2026!
A few weeks ago, the Virginia Department of Taxation solicited input from local finance officials to inform the department’s work group that is “studying the cost and fiscal impact of the mandatory real property tax exemption under Va. Code § 58.1-3219.5.” VML is part of that work group. The department will submit a report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by November 15, 2026. According to the TAX department, your locality's data is essential to that work.
On August 20, 2026 the survey was sent to Commissioners of the Revenue, Directors of Finance, City and County Assessors, and other local officials who administer the disabled veteran’s property tax exemption. The survey asks local officials about “the volume of exemptions, the amount of foregone revenue, surviving spouse portability, and local administrative burden.” According to TAX officials, it should take roughly 30–45 minutes to complete with a response requested no later than September 21, 2026.
Because the TAX department is convening a meeting on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 to discuss the property tax exemption issue, responses are encouraged sooner rather than later.
Questions about the survey can be directed to Mr. Bing Yee at bonding.yee@tax.virginia.gov.
Additional local input is likely to be needed
As the TAX department pulls together its findings and recommendations on mandatory property tax exemptions and the impact it’s having on local budgets, TAX officials will likely solicit input from localities on the draft report. When that happens, VML will encourage you to send your comments directly to the TAX department to ensure your input is considered by the work group and likely included in any final report. It is another opportunity to put your community’s unique stamp on the issue for state lawmakers.
In the meantime, it’s a good time to talk with your budget team to think about the most important points state budget officials need to know about this unfunded mandate that is projected to cost localities more than $416 million in 2026.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
FOIA
Freedom of Information Advisory Council subcommittees meet
Two Freedom of Information Advisory Council (FOIA Council) subcommittees hosted meetings on September 8.
The Records Subcommittee discussed HB313 (Wachsmann), which expands the definition of who can request public records under FOIA to include non-Virginia residents who own real property in the Commonwealth.
The subcommittee heard comments from local government attorneys and FOIA officers regarding concerns about the definition as proposed and requests for the scope to be limited to information regarding the non-resident’s real property in the state. The subcommittee chair recommended Delegate Wachsmann be consulted about the proposed language amendment, and no action was taken during this meeting. The subcommittee will meet once more to determine a final recommendation for this legislation before sending it to the full FOIA Council for consideration.
The subcommittee also briefly discussed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on FOIA requests, and FOIA staff were asked to prepare draft best practices for inclusion in the Council’s guidance materials. The subcommittee will review the best practices during their last meeting of this year.
The Meetings Subcommittee discussed HB463 (Cohen), which amends the FOIA definition of “meeting” from the “rule of three” which is currently deemed a quorum under state code and would authorize members of a public body participating remotely in a meeting in which other members are participating in person to count towards quorum as though the member was physically present. The subcommittee engaged in lengthy discussion about both components of the legislation and took the following actions:
- The subcommittee asked FOIA Council staff to provide clarification on the definition of “informational gatherings” as used in the public forum meeting exemption;
- The subcommittee recommended amending the definition of meeting from the current “rule of three” which is deemed a quorum or a gathering of three or more members of a public body where the members discuss or transact public business, to a gathering of four or more members of a public body where the members discuss or transact public business (or a quorum if the membership is fewer than four); and
- The subcommittee opted to communicate to the full FOIA Council that the remote participation components of this bill do not have a workgroup recommendation.
Finally, the subcommittee discussed draft legislation provided by Senator Bennett Parker, which would require the posting of agendas for public meetings in all places where localities also post notice of an upcoming public meeting. The subcommittee discussion clarified that this would not affect localities’ ability to amend agendas prior to the start of the public meeting. The bill was recommended to the full FOIA Council.
The recommendations from the Meetings Subcommittee will be reviewed by the full FOIA Council during their next meeting, currently scheduled for Thursday, September 24 at 1:00 p.m.
VML Contact: Jessica Dennis, jdennis@vml.org
Elections
Work group evaluates same-day voter registration processes
On September 9, the work group to study same-day voter registration met for the third time. The work group was created pursuant to SB582 (Salim) / HB774 (Thornton) to study potential changes to the same-day registration (SDR) and provisional vote process.
At its September meeting, the work group extensively discussed policy considerations to improvement the SDR process for both administrators and voters, ranging from streamlined processes for provisional ballots to technological advancements at polling locations. The specific policy discussions included the following:
- Streamlining the cure notification process for SDRs that contain a material error.
- Expanding functionality of the existing Citizen Portal.
- Installing a dedicated same day registration station at polling places.
- Allowing internet connectivity for polling place devices.
- Centralizing a single SDR location within a locality.
The next meeting of the work group will be held on October 14 to review a draft report based on the discussion generated during the September meeting.
VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org
Health & Human Resources
Virginia HHR Secretary holding regional H.R.1 workshops
Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Marvin Figueroa and agency directors and staff from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) and Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) are conducting regional workshops addressing new requirements and procedures being imposed on the state and localities by H.R.1, the comprehensive tax and spending bill passed by Congress and enacted into law in 2025. Most notably the bill affects administrative funding and program requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid program. Those changes are being implemented this year.
The workshops are intended for state and local partners, service providers, advocates, navigators, and others whose work may be affected by upcoming federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP. The sessions will offer information about the new requirements and an opportunity to discuss implementation and planning.
A total of 13 sessions will be held with the first sessions held in the last week. Each session will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please see the information below for dates, locations, and registration.
Registration: https://cvent.me/MAgWMX?RefId=Home
- Note – When using the above link, click on the “Sessions” tab at the top for the full list and locations for each session.
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Locality
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Venue
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Date
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Richmond
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VCCS- Reynolds
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1-Sep
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Petersburg
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Petersburg Public Library
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3-Sep
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Norfolk / Hampton
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Tidewater Community College - Portsmouth
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8-Sep
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Eastern Shore (Melfa)
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Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging
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9-Sep
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Fredericksburg
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Fredericksburg Convention Center
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15-Sep
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Fairfax / Annandale
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NOVA CC- Richard J. Ernst Forum
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16-Sep
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Charlottesville / Culpeper
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East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Co. Event Center
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22-Sep
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Harrisonburg / Front Royal
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Massanutten Regional Library, Central Branch
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23-Sep
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Lynchburg
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The Aviary
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1-Oct
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Farmville / South Boston
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Southside Virginia Community College
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2-Oct
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Martinsville
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Patrick & Henry Community College
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6-Oct
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Tazewell / Abingdon
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Southwest Virginia Community College
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8-Oct
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Christiansburg / Radford
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Montgomery County Government Center
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9-Oct
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VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
Education
The School Construction and Modernization Commission resumes meetings
On Tuesday, September 8, The School Construction and Modernization Commission met for the first time in four years. After legislation that removed the sunset for the commission went into effect, the commission scheduled dates to begin meeting again.
The meeting began with the election of Chair, Delegate Askew, and Vice Chair, Delegate Simonds.
Following the election process, members heard a series of presentations beginning with Staff Attorney Ryan Brimmer on the history and overview of duties of the commission. He outlined the Commission’s original goals and covered future tasks such as establishing a consistent meeting schedule and creating a 10-year plan focused on aiding school construction over time.
The next presentation was given by Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Christina Berta on what funding mechanisms and programs are currently in place. Additionally, Berta spoke about the progress on past initiatives and gave updates on how much state funding has been allocated to school construction in recent years.
Last to speak were staff from the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties who updated the commission on the status of – and potential revenues generated from – the recently authorized one percent sales tax for school construction.
The next meeting of the Commission has not been posted but is expected to occur in November.
VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@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: