AGENDA DATE: 8/20/2025
TITLE:
Title
Proposed 2026 Legislative Program
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Develop the legislative program for the 2026 General Assembly
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Kilroy, Herrick
PRESENTER (S): Emily Kilroy, Andy Herrick, and David Blount, Deputy Director / Legislative Director, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Each year, the Board considers and approves a set of legislative priorities to pursue in the upcoming General Assembly session. The Board then discusses these priorities with the County's General Assembly delegation and submits the priorities to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo), and the Virginia Municipal League (VML).
At its July 16 meeting, the Board reviewed the 2025 General Assembly session and discussed legislative priorities for 2026. During this meeting, staff proposed to the Board that the Legislative Positions and Policy Statements document should be substantially revised around higher-level legislative principles, as the document in its current form included items that were esoteric, not contemporary, and not helpful to the County during the General Assembly session.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission - To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all community members through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: During its work session, the Board of Supervisors will review the proposed legislative program (Attachment A), which includes both legislative priorities and a new legislative principles section. Based on Board feedback, the draft legislative priorities now include proposed legislation to enable localities to enforce elements of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act.
Staff has also developed a legislative principles section, which could replace the legislative positions and policy statements document used in prior years. The legislative principles reflect the high-level organizational goals. These legislative principles are meant to supplement the County’s specific legislative priorities and provide guidance for staff and legislators in determining whether the County supports certain legislation.
Though staff would recommend moving to a legislative principles model, staff has also drafted a proposed 2026 legislative positions statement (Attachment B), scaled back significantly from prior years, in the event the Board wishes to retain such a statement.
David Blount, Deputy Director of TJPDC, is also scheduled to participate in the presentation to the Board. Final action on the Board’s Legislative Program is scheduled for the Board’s meeting on September 25.
BUDGET IMPACT: There are no specific, identifiable budget impacts.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board review the proposed 2026 legislative program, identify areas that have Board support, and provide guidance to staff in finalizing the 2026 legislative program for Board consideration on September 17.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A - Proposed 2026 Legislative Program
Attachment B - Proposed 2026 Legislative Positions (optional)