HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/18/2026 - Potential Legislative Priorities for 2027Potential Legislative Priorities for 2027
• Airport Expansion and Funding
o Support additional state and federal funding for the maintenance an
expansion of airports to foster regional economic development
o (more information regarding specific requests to come from Mike Stewart)
• Oppose Collective Bargaining
•. Communications Regarding Effective Real Estate Tax Increases
o (we added additional language to our notices last year wh ich substantially
addressed the concern; solved?)
• Children's Services Act
o Oppose proposals to limit state participation in funding services for children
who are mandated to be provided with special education and foster care
services
o Enhance ability of local school divisions to serve children, including flexibility
in use of state pool funds
• Mental Health and Public Hospital Needs
• Broadband Expansion
• Transportation
o Support increased smart scale funding
o Support increased funding for greenway expansion
• School Safety and Security
o Reinstate funding for SROs
• Any other priorities?
Roa noke Va ll ey -A ll eg han y
REGIONAL commission 2027 Legislative Priorities
DRAFT
The Roanoke Blacksburg Airport supports over 3,000 jobs and $650 million in
economic activity each year. Improvements capacity , safety, and custome r expe ri e nce are
cri t ica l to make sure Roanoke 's "front doo r" meet s the reg ion 's econom ic needs .
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region needs $XXX million in investment i n repa irs ,
pav i ng , and cons truct ion to mee ts the transportat ion needs of a growing eco no m y .
Statement of support or compelling data point here .
he re .
W e A ls o Support Th ese Reg ional Needs :
• Amend VA Code Section 33 .2-3 59 to increase secondary road funding to an 'amount not to exceed
$50M ' and modify t he existing fund ing formula to meet rural needs without competing with or drawing
from the existing SMART SCALE program .
• Investment in the Roanoke region 's bio-med ical and life sciences resea rch sector , including state
support for the expansion of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Med icine facility and Fralin B iomedical
Research Institute .
• Preserve loca l zo ning authority a nd de cision-making over energy generation and data center approval
a nd s itin g dec is ions .
• Reduce Virginia 's status as a net importer of energy by modernizing transmission infrastructure,
reducing regulatory barriers, and developing incentives for all-of-the-above energy solutions , including
battery storage , geothermal , hydrogen, biofuels , nuclear, solar, and wind .
• Sup po rt im pleme ntat io n of t he Bl ue R idge Innovatio n Co rri do r's (B RI C) strateg ic vi sion for th e
Roa noke/New R ive r Va ll ey/Da nvi lle mega region as Virgini a 's fastest-growi ng econo mic eng i ne .