Council endorses TJPDC 2026 legislative priorities with noted exceptions

The City Council voted unanimously to endorse the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission’s (TJPDC) 2026 regional legislative program. David Blind, director of legislative services for the TJPDC, presented the draft program, which lists public education funding, budgets and funding, and land-use/growth-management as top priorities.

Blind summarized key priorities including support for realistic state funding levels for public education, opposition to unfunded mandates and restrictions on local revenue authority, and defense of local land-use authority against bills that would restrict local control. He also noted proposed positions on children’s services reimbursement, investments in local health and human services administration, childcare funding support, and transportation investment.

Councilors approved the program 5–0, but several council members requested that the city register disagreements on specific items: 1) language about not mandating expansion under the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and 2) qualified immunity/sovereign-immunity language. One councilor also asked that the record reflect a separate council disagreement with a bullet regarding mandating accessory dwelling units (ADUs) statewide. Staff indicated the council’s exceptions would be noted in the final program materials.