Board adopts 2025 legislative agenda; adds raw‑milk language and seeks more local control on speeds, considers kratom measures

On Oct. 7 the Board of Supervisors adopted the county’s 2025 legislative agenda, adding two items that supervisors asked staff to pursue at the General Assembly: (1) language to clarify state recognition or statutory guidance related to private raw‑milk consumption and private food‑club arrangements; and (2) a request to explore additional state authorization for local elected bodies to have more influence over residential speed limits and related enforcement.

County staff reported one previously suggested change (regulation of kratom, a botanical substance sold in some retail outlets) was included in the draft that had been distributed to supervisors. Staff summarized options used by other states, including age restrictions, marketer registration, requirements to limit child‑appealing packaging, and options for a state tax or seller registration. The board discussed aligning code updates and the legislative agenda: staff said kratom could be scheduled as a controlled substance at the state level or the county could seek authority to regulate access locally. The board asked staff to include suggestions in the legislative packet for Richmond consideration.

Separately, the board discussed proposed amendments to Chapter 22 (the zoning code) that included updates on nicotine vapor products and vape shops, solar siting, and proposed changes to lot‑size rules for residential districts. After discussion, the board voted to advertise the code update for public hearing but to remove the proposed lot‑size changes from the advertisement and study that topic separately. A substitute amendment that would have required data centers to seek special‑use approval and preserved the lot‑size change did not pass. The board also adopted a motion to include language about local control over speed limits and to pursue milk‑share language for the legislative agenda.

Ending: The adopted legislative agenda will be transmitted to the county’s legislative delegation for the 2026 General Assembly session; staff will follow up on draft language related to raw‑milk/private food‑club recognition, kratom controls and local speed‑limit authority and will proceed with the advertised code updates (without the lot‑size changes) for public hearing.