2027 draft legislative agenda guidance

At a glance

What: The city's draft 2027 state legislative agenda, for the 46-day 2027 General Assembly session.
Where it stands: Council received the draft October 13 and gave guidance; public comment was taken October 20. A public hearing and final guidance are set for October 27, with adoption scheduled November 10 (two-thirds majority needed). The Virginia Beach Hotel Association supports the pop-up special event zone but wants the sales tax language removed; a council member praised the draft's clarity.

Brent McKenzie presented the draft: policy priorities (housing, child care, education, energy, fiscal responsibility, flooding, land use and short-term rentals, public safety, transportation including e-bike safety), one budget amendment, and six code amendments.
The budget amendment would let the state-authorized 1 percent school construction sales tax referendum also fund flood resiliency. Stacy Cummings, Jennifer Rouse and Amelia Ross-Hammond asked how funds would be split and said voters must know before any referendum; staff said it is only an option needing voter approval.
Code amendments: a deferred retirement option plan for public safety, a fourth tier for tourism development financing, a renamed community safety zone bill (formerly the pop-up zone), a ban on carrying a weapon while intoxicated regardless of permit, two more local police seats on the forensic science board, and 90 days (up from 15) for emergency guardianship investigations.
Council added a mature tree stormwater credit (see Champion tree recognition), a renewed blue line city charter amendment (separate November hearing), and added Commonwealth's Attorney staff under the unfunded mandates item.

John Zirkle (Hotel Association) asked council to drop the request tied to the state-approved 1 percent tax for schools being expanded to flooding and capital projects, citing regressive effects and hotel and restaurant tax burdens; he said the restaurant and Atlantic Avenue associations agree.
A council member (apparently Stacy Cummings) replied that the request is only for flexibility to split the 1 percent between schools and stormwater, that a citywide referendum would be required first, and that no sales tax increase is proposed.
Holly Martyre (spelling uncertain) urged council not to raise taxes.

About 31 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-20 - City Council	8
2026-10-13 - City Council	23

2026-10-20 - City Council — Public comment from the Hotel Association and a resident; council clarified the sales tax language and one member praised the draft.
2026-10-13 - City Council — Staff presented the draft agenda; council asked about the 1 percent tax option and added a mature tree credit, a blue line charter amendment and prosecutor staffing.
2026-10-22 - Page created from a posted agenda; no meeting transcript processed yet.
2026-10-27 - 2026-10-27 - City Council (briefing session) Meeting: Staff presented the draft; final adoption expected Nov 10, vote likely Nov 17. Staff directed to add back police priorities; traffic primary-offense item contested.