[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6392176,"mediaKeyId","2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957","parentId",2110205,"title","Senate Local Government committee advances multiple charter and local measures; quick roll calls on several bills","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",8000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957&start=8&end=8","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957/thumbnail_8000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6392176/Virginia/Senate-Local-Government-committee-advances-multiple-charter-and-local-measures-quick-roll-calls-on-several-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392176-e10d39b33045c9c7213c4e90111f45bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147319&Signature=oKcow771mWgvCBTtaeGn1ecH-vPhAnrREN~5qhfVdTPmZpQxGvLAOvh2nalRwNdn6uFSXqK~bTqDk6tEIrX4AL8luU8aSKeVxyAhMvLSBdgyUZXgbCFW3uuzKOp9080GNO3AbdpyDXnZufB7VJg-PZOlJoGqDWhnKCogzJCV6MXkdbBSUSAnlvh~RBph-m2Cwk7nGP-h7O5yA0gisFTtiLq8LjactdbIiN~yRxmDKp7ggZOSEi5ji0koEM-gUKDVoAxDAynmO7Yzus7SfdW~QUx2rL16tKd91tCbZ70Fb4NJwZiNIXQTSvW4gSvFdurg2o-Rtk7qJ9r0d6V9qnUO8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Legislature","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Local Government on Monday advanced a broad docket of city charters and local governance bills, moving several measures to the Senate floor after brief presentations and procedural votes.

Several charter change requests were presented by local officials or their attorneys and reported with minimal debate. Those included Portsmouth’s charter amendment regarding minority and women business enterprise (MWBE) contracting rules (Senate Bill 872), Chesapeake’s charter language to align council member term dates with state law (SB 935), Shenandoah’s clarifications of officer responsibilities and creation of a vice mayor (SB 1150), Norfolk’s request to exempt the deputy fire chief from classified service (SB 987), Danville’s comprehensive charter update (SB 1206), Roanoke’s appointment change for the Director of Real Estate Valuation (SB 1176) and other town charter requests.

The committee also moved Senate Bill 992, a measure aimed at increasing penalties for repeat commercial zoning violations in certain planning districts, and Senate Bill 997, a housekeeping bill clarifying oath of office timing for local officers.

Many bill presentations were short: city attorneys or managers attended in support of their local charter bills and committee members generally asked a small number of clarifying questions. Most of those measures reported on voice or unanimous roll calls.

Votes at a glance (committee action):
- SB 872 (Portsmouth MWBE charter change): Reported (Ayes 9, Noes 3, abstentions not fully specified in record).
- SB 935 (Chesapeake charter term dates): Reported (Ayes 12, Noes 0).
- SB 1150 (Town of Shenandoah charter updates): Reported (Ayes 12, Noes 0).
- SB 987 (Norfolk deputy fire chief exemption): Reported (Ayes 12, Noes 0).
- SB 992 (Zoning compliance/penalties for repeat commercial violations): Reported (motion and report recorded; roll call not fully specified in excerpt).
- SB 997 (Oath of office conformance): Reported (Ayes 13, Noes 0).
- SB 1206 (Danville charter modernization): Reported (Ayes 12, Noes 0).
- SB 836 (Costa City removal authority): Reported as amended (Ayes 12, Noes 0).
- SB 839 (amendments filed; taken by for the day): By for the day (committee postponed final action).
- SB 1176 (Roanoke appointment): Reported (Ayes 13, Noes 0).
- SB 873 (Richlands charter change): Reported (Ayes 13, Noes 0).

Presenters included city attorneys and managers in several cases. For example, Vanda Graham Williams, City Attorney for Portsmouth, answered questions about SB 872’s dispute‑study and benchmarking language; Danville’s city manager and legal team attended to present SB 1206.

Most charter bills are drafted in cooperation with the Department of Legislative Services and were described by sponsors as either updating antiquated provisions or aligning local charters with current state law or widely used practices. Several sponsors said their local councils had unanimously recommended the changes.

Next steps: the reported bills will be scheduled for floor consideration in the Senate. The committee chair closed the docket after acknowledging two Senate pages and adjourned the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 13, 2025 - Local Government - SR B (306) - 8:00 am","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Local Government reported a slate of charter amendments and local‑government bills in a single hearing. Most charter city changes and local requests were reported unanimously or by voice vote; several items received brief presentations from city legal staff.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature VA, Virginia","taxId",77687,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6392181,"Committee advances bill letting counties set local elected official pay based on population bracket",798,1177000,1975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957&start=1177&end=1975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957/thumbnail_1177000.jpg","/articles/6392181/Virginia/Committee-advances-bill-letting-counties-set-local-elected-official-pay-based-on-population-bracket","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392181-25d36dc84e15f7206fe74c1c14930347/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147319&Signature=ew~i4JZCAdo1mWhbpav-uSXZjTkapohnWK4cfYt6NgtEW62vIIQYjvUYmy7QHheykP79USipKUI6vkLD5-RhiAva3CHGNQ0A1paowqi3Y88RwXmdxRAprow8kfh63mXM5aFoHYL6GYA6JTtxlnGQiuzZiWHHusfddwkJVs~ALg2cvsPzVjP6P4GN9shf9vgvGPsCTi3PiozseGFZfv-WcaT04JCpemN0uviD-Ysp7Pd9ondon53qX~niG839mvzxqm2-967sKkIprorjjI5nyGtfYsZ5iD6XvHGbhGkrHtJifaumwHB~9147JoiRgaQdwpcaBZQFCqcR4ck47dRi5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Local Government on Monday reported Senate Bill 762, a measure requested by the Pennsylvania County Board of Supervisors that would allow counties to adjust board salaries based on local population brackets similar to a change enacted for cities in 2024.

Supervisor Ken Bowman, chair of Pennsylvania County’s legislative committee, told the panel the county’s 2020 population (60,501) places it in a bracket that currently sets a maximum board member salary at $9,000; the proposed changes would permit a local governing body to authorize higher maximum salaries — Bowman cited a potential maximum of $34,000 in the discussion as an upper statutory bracket under the proposal.

Bowman and the bill’s patron said the change is intended to offset inflation, cover costs incurred by serving officials (internet, travel, supplies), and help recruit younger and more diverse candidates who may otherwise be unable to serve while holding paid employment. Bowman emphasized the change would not create state expenditures; any pay increases would come from local budgets.

Committee members pressed on scope and precedent. One senator noted that a city version adopted in 2024 set lower increases and included an inflation tie; another member said some localities moved quickly to set higher salaries last year, which produced local backlash. The sponsor said the bill’s intent is to allow local governing bodies discretion and establish a statutory maximum rather than require a specific increase.

On procedure, a motion to pass the bill by indefinitely failed on a recorded vote (Ayes 3, Noes 9, 1 abstention). The committee then voted to report the bill to the floor (Ayes 8, Noes 3, 1 abstention). The bill will next be considered on the Senate floor.

Proponents said the change would modernize compensation options for local officials; critics cautioned that statutory authorization could be used to set large increases without sufficient local public engagement.","Senate Bill 762, requested by Pennsylvania County, was reported out of the Senate Committee on Local Government after back‑and‑forth over procedure and a failed motion to pass by indefinitely; the measure would allow county boards to adopt salary brackets similar to changes made for city councils in 2024.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6392186,"Senate committee advances statewide accessory-dwelling-unit bill after amendments, sets July 2026 effective date",1797,2212000,4009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957&start=2212&end=4009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110205-2590eb9f5320594ef0d277f7db2e9957/thumbnail_2212000.jpg","/articles/6392186/Virginia/Senate-committee-advances-statewide-accessory-dwelling-unit-bill-after-amendments-sets-July-2026-effective-date","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392186-06e17b5225af90bd91d26e9185ce0a44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147319&Signature=nJDmPOiblGsWYTSSMczzZD~AwhQy9yuqC38RTD4YAetNMmuctZJ3DIUaQjeUQ1C5cbOSgRVTnv~DsCX3Z1Wfi9xW7qoHmqpLOLjPJBoojgSf2UHnbm36V8YolilZm3AZwjhBZ1pxFnavjRC4jN7CwO6z5DWEmj2~F33PQkxP~Unz4BS9YgU2Kgtemhhe8dF54GPoP0c1Z7r1CSRCw7f0aDanStf3C8Z-xU8BOVkv6l2NPYzEEZeQzDz0OT~q6LPkL4BvAL~PdF1vZYGf4XGBdTnx7-k5kd5J0Yj~1Wh6ZYhURPO9ogSD9rvjoz592MRwUecqrMCH0I8GDTCFLNGOTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Local Government on Monday reported Senate Bill 932, a bill that would require localities to permit accessory dwelling units with statewide baseline rules, after more than two hours of testimony from housing advocates and local officials and several amendments.

The measure's sponsor told the committee the bill aims to create a predictable statewide framework to increase small, “in‑place” housing options such as garage apartments and granny flats and to speed up production without requiring rezoning or special‑use permits.

Supporters from housing groups and local jurisdictions told the committee ADUs can increase housing supply, help seniors age in place and provide options for caregivers and multigenerational families. Alexander McAuley, testifying for an advocacy group, said the bill establishes “broad guardrails” while giving localities time to tailor rules; Barrett Hardiman of the Commonwealth Housing Coalition told the committee, “this is a very important step in helping to solve our housing supply crisis.”

Local governments and municipal associations urged caution. Joe Lurch of the Virginia Association of Counties and representatives from Hampton, Virginia Beach and other localities said many jurisdictions are already working on locally tailored ADU ordinances and opposed a one‑size‑fits‑all mandate. Michelle Gabbie of the Virginia Municipal League said her members “prefer the ability to have these discussions at the local level and tailor it to our localities.”

Amendments adopted in committee addressed several local concerns. The sponsor agreed to strike a provision that would have blocked local parking requirements in some smaller single‑family zones and accepted language explicitly allowing localities to set parking requirements for ADUs. The committee also revised the grandfathering date: local ordinances adopted before January 1, 2026 (changed from 2025) that meet conditions in the bill will be grandfathered. The reported version delays statewide effectiveness until July 1, 2026 to give localities time to adopt ordinances.

The committee adopted the amendments and reported SB 932 on a roll call. The final committee tally recorded Ayes 6, Noes 5, 2 abstentions. The bill will go to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Proponents said the bill balances statewide consistency with local flexibility by giving communities until mid‑2026 to adopt local ADU rules and by allowing local limits on parking, setbacks and other technical standards. Opponents said a permissive approach — allowing but not requiring local adoption — would better preserve local control.

The committee received extensive testimony from housing organizations, developers and local government officials. Several witnesses noted a phased approach would be needed for fully built‑out communities with narrow streets and infrastructure constraints. The bill as reported contains explicit language limiting when a locality may deem an ADU a special use; if a locality’s ordinance requires a special‑use permit for ADUs, that local ordinance would not receive the bill’s grandfather protection.

The committee action sends SB 932 to the Senate floor; additional amendments are possible there.","The Senate Committee on Local Government reported Senate Bill 932, which would require localities to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under state guardrails, after adopting amendments that give localities additional time to pass ordinances and preserve some local parking discretion. The measure passed the committee by a narrow margin.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate Local Government committee advances multiple charter and local measures; quick roll calls on several bills

Committee advances bill letting counties set local elected official pay based on population bracket

Senate committee advances statewide accessory-dwelling-unit bill after amendments, sets July 2026 effective date