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Virginia Beach staff outline draft 2026 legislative agenda emphasizing local control, housing and flood funding
Summary
City staff presented a draft 2026 General Assembly agenda that emphasizes local land-use authority, affordable housing, stormwater funding, public safety measures and several code amendments; council debated a charter amendment to require a higher vote threshold for land-use changes south of the "blue line."
Brent McKenzie, city staff lead on state legislative affairs, presented a draft 2026 General Assembly legislative agenda that frames the city's priorities heading into the long session. The timeline for adoption begins with a public hearing on Oct. 7, a return to council Oct. 14 for final guidance and adoption targeted for Oct. 21.
McKenzie said the policy-priority section focuses on issues the city expects to face at the General Assembly: affordable housing and preserving local land-use decision-making, education and school-construction funding, energy policy and local authority, and state support for flood and stormwater programs. "A lot of that will be impacted based on this year's elections," McKenzie said, noting the session will produce the next biennial state budget.
Key asks and code amendments included in the draft package: - Preserve local control over land-use decisions and seek continued funding for K-12 school construction. - Support for a Virginia housing trust fund, eviction reform, rental assistance and first-time homebuyer programs. - A code amendment to allow local governments to notify short-term rental intermediaries (e.g., online platforms) to remove listings that lack required permits. - A proposed grant program to help local fire departments provide cancer screenings to public safety employees and expansion of allowable uses for the fire programs fund. - A requested study and potential restrictions related to menhaden fishing and a proposed environmental-benefits approach for projects in the Back Bay. - A code proposal creating "pop-up event zones" for enhanced enforcement at unpermitted large gatherings with requirements for 24-hour notice and public information if activated.
Budget requests in the package included $1.7 million for an urban search-and-rescue task force, $1 million for gun-violence-prevention programming, $250,000 proposed contribution toward the Virginia Aquarium's stranding program (the aquarium estimated the program cost at about $450,000), and a request for up to $10 million for aquarium renovation and expansion pending further definition. McKenzie also included a request for state help renovating courthouse office space tied to a new judge.
Council reaction focused on two contentious items: a charter amendment affecting the city's "blue line" growth boundary and language to preserve the local option on collective bargaining authority. Opponents said the proposed three-fourths threshold could create a procedural path to future expansion of services rather than an absolute bar; supporters said the higher threshold would strengthen protections for agricultural and rural areas.
Council members also pressed staff for more detail on the pop-up-event proposal and asked whether the city would coordinate with neighboring localities on enforcement. McKenzie said the mayor will brief mayors of the region and that the city would seek broader support where appropriate.
What happens next: Council will hold a public hearing Oct. 7 and return for additional guidance Oct. 14. Adoption is scheduled for Oct. 21, after which city staff will work to find sponsors in the General Assembly and advocate for the package.
