City lays out 2026 legislative package focused on housing, schools and backfilling federal cuts

Wendy Ginsburg, Alexandria's legislative director, presented the city's proposed 2026 legislative package on Dec. 9, outlining seven priority areas ahead of the General Assembly session.

Ginsburg described the package-development process (a public call for proposals Aug. 8'Oct. 3 yielded more than 130 submissions) and said the package was narrowed to strategic themes for effective advocacy in Richmond. The seven policy areas are: state support to backfill federal workforce and funding reductions; advanced housing-affordability tools and authorities; rebuilding critical school infrastructure and revising the K'12 funding formula; investments in mental health, public health and community well-being; advancing civil-rights and access (including measures to modernize laws on reproductive freedom and restore certain civil rights); strengthening transit resilience and clean-energy transition; and promoting civic engagement and election administration reforms.

Ginsburg said the city has coordinated closely with Alexandria City Public Schools lobbyists on school-infrastructure asks and plans to send city delegations to Richmond on January 29 and February 5 for municipal advocacy days. Council members asked for clarifying language to emphasize supports for students, teachers and staff in school funding asks and pressed staff to organize constituent visits to newly elected delegates.

The presentation was informational; council will hold a public hearing and final action on the package at a subsequent meeting.