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Virginia Beach receives General Assembly briefing as session accelerates
Summary
Brett McKenzie, the city’s legislative affairs director, told council the 60‑day General Assembly session is under way, flagged deadlines for bill and budget filings, and highlighted priority bills on housing, land use, taxes and public safety — including a compromise on Marsh Terrace permitting and new authority in a proposed pop‑up event enforcement zone.
Brett McKenzie, the city’s legislative affairs director, briefed the Virginia Beach City Council on the 2026 General Assembly session, emphasizing calendar milestones, committee changes and several bills that could affect local authority and the city budget.
McKenzie said the 2026 session is a 60‑day “long session” that began Wednesday, Jan. 14, and will produce the state’s biannual budget. He noted the filing deadline for legislation was the coming Friday and that budget amendment filings were already complete; updates to the city’s budget outlook will follow as amendments are posted.
Why it matters: McKenzie told council that multiple bills under consideration could alter local planning authority or impose new costs on the city. He urged council to track measures tied to land‑use authority, housing and tax changes because they could materially affect local revenues and permitting responsibilities.
Key points from the briefing included:
- Committee and timeline: McKenzie described shifts in committee assignments after the legislature…
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