Senate committee fast-tracks two Virginia Beach charter bills, including districting lock-in

The Senate Local Government Committee reported two related bills for Virginia Beach on unanimous voice votes after city officials and residents urged the committee to approve charter alignment and districting safeguards.

Sen. Rouse presented SB51 as a substitute requiring localities with populations over 400,000 to adopt district systems for representation; he said the substitute is specifically aimed at Virginia Beach and would lock in adopted districts until the next redistricting following the 2030 census. The substitute passed the committee roll call (Eyes 14, No 0).

Rouse also presented SB681 as a separate city-charter change reflecting the 10-1 districting structure Virginia Beach voters affirmed by referendum. Brent McKenzie, the citys representative, and other city officials testified in support of both bills, noting unanimous city-council backing and a majority referendum result. Multiple residents — including Brian Sullivan and Joan Porte (League of Women Voters) — testified in favor of the charter changes during the committees public-comment period.

Committee members asked questions about the bill language, electorate effects, and whether the measure would be limited to Virginia Beach or would apply more broadly if other localities exceeded the population threshold. The committee reported both measures to the next stage: SB51 (substitute) and SB681 were each reported by recorded voice vote (both recorded as Eyes 14, No 0).