On Tuesday, February 17, the General Assembly concluded the first half of its work for the session. This milestone is called Crossover Day.  

What is Crossover?   

Crossover is when bills introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates move to the Senate, and vice-versa. By this point, of the almost 3000 bills introduced, we now know which ones have a fighting chance – and it’s time to finish strong. 

What are some bills that the City is continuing to support?   

School Crossing Zones. Senator Jones’ SB221 would allow localities to pass ordinances that lengthen school crossing zone times from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. Pedestrian safety is a huge priority in Richmond. In alignment with the Vision Zero initiative, the City has taken an active role in supporting this bill, and we're grateful Senator Jones is leading the effort.

Affordable Housing Incentives. More tools for localities to incentivize and realize affordable housing will move Mayor Avula’s plan for housing affordability forward and make a huge difference for Richmonders. Delegate Cousins’ HB867 and Senator McPike’s SB74 would allow the City to take common-sense measures to incentivize the inclusion of affordable housing in new development. Delegate Carr's HB806 gives Economic Development Authorities more tools to expand affordable housing. Already, Richmond’s EDA has helped support 2,900 new affordable housing units for Richmonders in four years. HB806 can keep the momentum going and help accelerate. 

Eviction Prevention. As of November 2025, Richmond’s eviction rates stood at 24%, nearly double the Virginia eviction rate of 13%. The expansion of the Eviction Reduction Program under HB527/SB628 would increase access much-needed eviction prevention services including legal resources, education on tenant rights, and short-term financial assistance, and in later stages, taking measures to divert or avoid eviction court proceedings.   

School Funding. To set our kids up for a bright future, they need to learn in schools that are safe and functional. HB334 would give our voters a new opportunity to fund school modernization. The GA is also looking to ramp up its investment in K-12 education, providing more funding for services and programs that RPS kids especially need. 

Safe Gun Storage. 472 firearms were stolen out of cars in the City of Richmond in 2025, many of which were later used in the commission of a crime. HB110 / SB496 require safe storage of guns in vehicles. They are common sense measures to prevent gun violence in our communities. 

Budget amendments for our infrastructure. Delegate Carr and Senator Jones are carrying important budget amendments to keep Richmond’s water infrastructure in working order. 283 #2h and 283 #3s would update Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant without increasing costs for ratepayers around the region. And our long-term commitment to addressing the Combined Sewer Overflow system is on track to be fulfilled if we receive funding from the state under budget amendments 368 #11h and 368 #2s. 

What happens if the Senate and the House pass versions of bills that look similar but not identical?  

Often, bills are introduced in both the Senate and the House to give both legislative bodies a chance to review and pass the legislation. This can result in similar bills (which are actually called cognates). If cognates end up in wildly different forms during session, they go to a conference committee toward the end of session to compromise on a final product.   

What’s next?   

The General Assembly session comes to a close on March 14. Until then, and through the hard work of budgeting for and passing this state legislation, Richmond’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and lobbying team will continue to work with stakeholders and legislators to push legislation and budget amendments in line with the City’s vision of affordable housing, safe streets, and thriving public schools.  

If you’ve been on one of the basketball courts across the City’s community centers lately, you might have noticed they’re looking a little spruced up. For designer Terrell Mack, supporting this Parks and Rec project has been a major full circle moment.  

Mack is the designer behind four City courts—including Humphrey Calder, Bellemeade, and two at Southside Community Center—with a few more on the way. These projects are especially meaningful to him because he grew up playing on many of these courts.  

“I grew up playing at Powhatan Community Center in the East End,” he says, “but we played games at some of the courts I’ve done now. I remember winning a playoff game at Bellemeade in like 7th grade.”  

The Parks and Rec Department has spent the past few years redesigning courts one by one. Mack, a designer for the City’s Strategic Communications team, was approached to step in for the third court in the series.  

For each court, center Directors work with their staff and visitors to brainstorm a theme and direction that feels true to the space; a lot of community centers already have their own mascots!

Equipped with those ideas, Mack produces a draft with the center’s mascot, colors, and even some gradient shading along the court. His favorite so far is the elaborate, Gotham City-inspired, Richmond cityscape that now adorns the big court at Southside, complete with a duck mascot at the center.  

The Southside courts also hold a special memory for Mack; the smaller court is where he watched his oldest son, Jayce, step onto a court he’d designed.  

“I don’t even know the words. It was just surreal, knowing the process and all the work and the different hands that played a part in getting that done, and now here we are with our team in a championship game. We got to celebrate on it and take pictures on it. It was a great experience.” 

And Mack says the value of these courts extend far beyond his own son. “It’s amazing that these kids are getting to play on great basketball courts—great rims, good flooring, great crowds, good seating, good lighting. The City really pours into these facilities. We've had them in Richmond forever, and it was time for renovations. For these kids to be able to have state of the art facilities to go to for free in walking distance—it's the most fun part of their day and they’re learning life lessons about teamwork.”  

Mack invites everyone to come check out the new courts. Whether you’re looking to enroll a youth in a league or you’re a senior eager to pick a sport back up, there’s an activity for you at Richmond’s community centers! Find the full list at the Parks and Rec Program Guide . 

👋  Hola, Richmond, soy Amy Propovich, subdirectora administrativa de Servicios Humanos.

Como se acercan más días de clima invernal, quiero asegurarme de que todos, especialmente aquellos que necesitan un lugar cálido y seguro donde alojarse, conozcan las opciones de refugio. Estas opciones de albergues son escogidas en base a los recursos necesarios y la situación actual, y quiero compartirles esta información importante.

👋  Mi nombre es Paul Hunley.

Trabajo en los refugios de emergencia de la Ciudad de Richmond. Abrimos en situaciones extraordinarias, que incluyen clima severo, inundaciones, tornados, huracanes y otros eventos que pueden desplazar a las personas de los lugares donde residen normalmente. Es importante recordar que los refugios de emergencia están abiertos para todos, incluyendo familias, personas solas, cualquiera impactado por ese evento. Estamos preparados para atender a los afectados y recibimos a todos en cualquier momento mientras el refugio esté en funcionamiento. Gracias.

😱 ¡Uy¡ Tuvimos problemas técnicos con este video.

Soy el comandante Samuel Kim, del refugio para clima inclemente del Ejército de Salvación. El refugio del Ejército de Salvación está abierto todas las noches de 5:00 p. m. a 8:00 a. m. del 15 de noviembre al 15 de abril. Esos horarios y fechas pueden extenderse cuando las temperaturas bajen de 40 °F  (4 °C) o cuando haya lluvia helada o nieve de más de 1 pulgada en un período de 24 horas.

👋 Hola, soy Samantha Strauss.

Soy la coordinadora de servicios de alta necesidad en el refugio de emergencia Care Cost. Nuestras instalaciones se activan cuando la temperatura baja de 40 °F  (4 °C) y cuando el refugio para clima inclemente del Ejército de Salvación está a plena capacidad.

👋 Hola, Richmond.

Soy Jackie Hale, soy parte del equipo que trabaja en los centros de calentamiento por clima extremo de la Ciudad. Tenemos opciones diurnas y nocturnas, como aquí en el Centro Linwood Robinson. Durante el clima o temperaturas extremas, abrimos centros de calentamiento para que los habitantes tengan un lugar seguro y cálido donde puedan pasar el día.

Hey Team,

As you’re all aware, this is a time of extremely high anxiety and fear for our immigrant communities in Richmond and beyond, and I’d like to get more explicit about how we voice and lend our support here.

I’d like to establish a Cross-Agency Immigrant Support Working Group to share information, develop strategy and procedure, and be positioned to respond in real time to emergent threats and challenges.

This working group will consist of me, CAO, senior staff in the Mayor’s Office, DCAO for Human Services, Police Chief, Manager of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Empowerment, and the Directors of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Office of Strategic Communications. If you would like to bring one additional staff person from your agency to these meetings with additional expertise and engagement in this area, please let Sarah Carpenter know. We will also invite participation from Richmond Public Schools and from the Sheriff’s Office.

I am asking Kelsey to find an hour in the near future to kick us off, and then some follow up meetings so we’re all communicating on this in real time. I’ll also be looking to this group to connect with key community partners in this work.

Thanks,
Danny

Looking to give back? Spend this summer as a mentor! 

January is National Mentoring Month, and Richmond's Office of Community Wealth Building has a way for local organizations to celebrate: Become a partner for the YouthWorks RVA summer program!

The City's Youth Engagement Services (Y.E.S) works year-round to recruit community partners to host or hire Richmond's young people for six-week internships over the summer.

Program Coordinator Erika Love is deeply committed to the success of the program. In fact, she spent three summers as a youth intern herself back when the program was called the Mayor's Youth Academy!

"All my placements were meaningful," Erika shares, "but it was during my third summer, when I interned for the City in the DCAO's office, that everything shifted. That experience changed the trajectory of my life. I grew up in Fairfield Court, and without programs like this, I'm not sure what my path would have looked like. I carry that with me every day when I'm working with young people."

The program's success each year depends on having a solid roster of community organizations and City agencies who are ready to welcome and support our youth. Erika says organizations can apply to host-they work with their intern, but the person is paid through the City's Y.E.S funding-or to hire. When organizations hire interns directly, it frees up program funds to support even more youth and gives interns a more hands-on, immersive work experience.

Whether an organization chooses to hire or host, every intern gains more than a placement. They receive career advising, meaningful exposure to professional environments, and hands-on learning that helps turn potential into confidence and direction. Supervisors, in turn, are equipped with the tools to mentor, guide, and support the next generation of the workforce with intention.

"It's about connection," Erika says. "This generation is different in all the best ways. When we are willing to meet them where they are, create space for real learning and exposure, and truly listen, we don't just prepare them for work, we help shape their future and see lasting impact in their lives."

Erika shares that she's often seen these internships lead to part or full-time work for some of the program participants. These pathways, she says, are what community wealth building is all about. "Our goal is to help people build wealth in every aspect and to drive solutions that expand opportunities. We cannot forget that youth are a part of the population who need to be part of this bigger project."

If you're ready to be a mentor and help shape the future of our youth, you can apply to host or hire by February 13. Email Erika at erika.love@rva.gov to learn about your options!

Fun fact: One of Erika's most influential mentors still works at the City! "One of my first mentors was Carla Childs, and now I get to call her a colleague and a friend. When I work with our youth, I want to be the person that Carla was for me."