The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs has been working hard this General Assembly session to deliver for Richmonders, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve accomplished with the help of our partners across Broad Street. But first, let’s talk about the big picture.
Session summary
Governor Spanberger and the leadership in the legislature have been focused on making Virginia more affordable. The governor’s action deadline to approve, veto, or send amendments was April 13. Through three key policy areas, there is legislation that would:
- Make housing more affordable, such as HB4, which would enable localities to keep housing affordable by giving us the right of first refusal when affordable housing is exiting the required period of affordability.
- Ensure that healthcare is accessible, for example, with HB220 / SB630 eliminating premium surcharges for tobacco use.
- Lower the cost of energy, like HB2 (patroned by Delegate Carr), requiring Dominion to expand its energy efficiency programs for low-income individuals.
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Virginia is also moving forward with several constitutional amendments, including:
- The Congressional redistricting amendment, which requires voter approval this spring to go into effect. Election Day is April 21. For more information on how to vote in this election, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.
- Enshrining civil rights, such as:
Addressing gun violence in communities is a priority that the city’s administration and state leaders share. These new laws will help prevent tragedy before it happens, including closing “the boyfriend loophole” in red flag laws (HB19 / SB160), cracking down on ghost guns (HB40 / SB323), and banning assault weapons (HB217 / SB749).
A retail cannabis market is poised to get underway in 2027, bringing Richmond closer to safe, regulated recreational cannabis use and an opportunity to raise revenues locally.
Wins for Richmond
The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs has been testifying in committee, working with legislators, and advocating through coalition partners for policies that will help Richmonders thrive.
Housing: Over the last four years, the Economic Development Authority has provided grants for 2,900 affordable housing units. This year, the office worked with Delegate Carr on HB806, which will further unlock financing by giving the Economic Development Authority the opportunity to issue bonds to build affordable housing.
In conjunction with Governor Spanberger’s affordable housing priorities, the office supported HB527 / SB628 to extend the Eviction Reduction Program and continue providing immediate financial assistance in times of need.
The City of Richmond is already working on Code Refresh to increase the supply of housing, but under current law, it is very difficult for localities to incentivize affordable housing. One of the biggest victories this session is inclusionary zoning with HB867 / SB74, championed by Delegate Cousins and Senator McPike, which will allow the city to speed up affordable housing development. Code Refresh and inclusionary zoning programs will work in tandem to make housing more accessible.
Pedestrian safety: To make Vision Zero a reality, Richmond needs to take every possible step to slow cars down and protect everyone on the city’s streets. The office advocated in support of Senator Jones’ bill, SB221, to extend school zone times, and SB84, to help enforce pedestrian crossing violations. Building safe driving habits and holding drivers accountable will save lives.
Next steps
The state budget is still being finalized, and state leaders have some big decisions ahead. Priorities for the whole commonwealth, from healthcare to core assistance programs to housing investments, will be funded by the General Assembly’s fiscal 2027-28 budget. For Richmond, a few areas the city is watching with grateful partnership for the General Assembly’s work so far include:
State investment in Richmond’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Through state funding, the city can work to prevent crises before they occur without putting undue financial burden on residents. Richmond stands ready to execute repairs and improvements should these funds be allocated in the final budget.
K-12 school infrastructure. Richmond’s schools are aging, and students need modern classrooms to grow and learn. The General Assembly will help determine if localities across Virginia can adopt a 1 percent sales tax to support school construction. To keep Richmond Public Schools a strong place to work and learn, city leaders are grateful for the proposed increases in funding for school modernization, teacher pay, and support for vulnerable students.
