Every year before the Virginia General Assembly meets, Richmond City puts together a list of legislative proposals. This "legislative agenda" helps our state partners know what policies the City may need. It gives them some tools to advocate for us, and it helps our policymakers prioritize their work during the session. Want to know what recommendations we made this year? Keep reading, or explore the full legislative agenda document to learn about other policy priorities--including work to reduce gun violence, fund RPS, improve recovery and healthcare services, and get equal pay for public defenders, among others--and our regional partners.

Legislative Request #1: Inclusionary Zoning

What is inclusionary zoning? These programs make sure that low- and moderate-income housing options are represented in future housing development projects. This legislation would grant Richmond the authority to use new tools to get more affordable housing units built as Richmond grows.

Legislative Request #2: Long-term Owner Occupancy Program (LOOP)

What is LOOP? A LOOP is a tax relief program that can keep tax bills stable and predictable by "locking in" a property's assessed value at a capped amount. Currently Richmond and other Virginia localities can't set up a program like this. This legislation would advance work to give localities like Richmond the authority to protect the housing affordability for certain long-term residents through property tax relief.

Legislative Request #3: Anti-Rent Gouging

What is rent gouging? When a landlord changes a rent steeply, which can often force tenants to move out. Anti-rent gouging programs can prevent someone from increasing the rent by more than a certain percentage over a given period of time. This legislation would giving local governments the authority to establish programs that would limit abusive rent increases.

Budgetary Request #1: Water Treatment Plant

The ask: Richmond has requested $40 million in state assistance for both Fiscal Year 2027 and Fiscal Year 2028 for drinking water infrastructure improvement.

The reason: Upgrading Richmond Waterworks is critical for keeping our drinking water reliable and safe. Our ten-year plan for improvements will cost about $1.3 billion. State support would jumpstart this important work.

Budgetary Request #2: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)

The ask: Richmond has requested $100 million in both Fiscal Year 2027 and Fiscal Year 2028 to improve the city's sewer system.

The reason: When our old sewer system gets overwhelmed during heavy rain or other weather events, that overflow impacts waterways like the James River. Updating this system requires ongoing state funds to meet the full cost of the plan, which is over $500 million.