Chesterfield Supervisors Challenge Two State Bills

Google News: Chesterfield County·Mar 6, 2026

Chesterfield Supervisors Challenge Two State Bills

TL;DR: Chesterfield County supervisors opposed two state bills in early 2026—one expanding by-right multifamily housing in commercial zones and another legalizing public-sector collective bargaining—citing threats to local government authority.

Quick facts

Who: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors (Chair Mark Miller, Clover Hill Supervisor Jessica Schneider, Bermuda District Supervisor Jim Ingle, State Sen. Glen Sturtevant); Virginia General Assembly
What: Supervisors challenged HB816 (multifamily housing mandates) and HB1263/SB378 (public-sector collective bargaining); HB816 defeated in Senate; Governor Spanberger vetoed collective bargaining bills
When: February–June 2026 (supervisors' opposition voiced in February, Senate votes March 5–6, Governor's veto June 2026)
Where: Chesterfield County, Virginia; Virginia General Assembly, Richmond

The story

In February 2026, Chesterfield County supervisors sounded an alarm about two pieces of state legislation they believed would strip local authority from county government. The entire five-member board penned an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch condemning the bills as threats to Chesterfield's ability to govern its own affairs. "We need people to reach out to the House and Senate to let them know how bad of an idea it is," Bermuda District Supervisor Jim Ingle said at a February board meeting.

The first bill, HB816, would have required localities to allow by-right multifamily residential development on 75 percent of commercially zoned land. Supervisors argued this would undermine local zoning control and prevent Chesterfield from planning its own development patterns. State Senator Glen Sturtevant (R–Chesterfield) opposed the measure, declaring, "For the communities I represent, this bill would be a major step backward." He argued that "affordability doesn't come from Richmond dictating one-size-fits-all zoning mandates." The Virginia Senate voted down HB816 on a bipartisan 22–17 vote in early March 2026, ending that threat.

The second bill proved more contentious. HB1263 and its Senate companion SB378 would have repealed Virginia's longstanding prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees, creating a state Public Employee Relations Board to oversee unionization and negotiations. Clover Hill Supervisor Jessica Schneider said the bills were "taking power away from localities." The Commission on Local Government's fiscal analysis showed Chesterfield would face an estimated $404 million in additional expenditures over two years if the legislation passed—roughly $200 million annually in recurring costs. County officials estimated the measure could increase the real estate tax rate by over 25 cents. The collective bargaining bills advanced further than HB816, passing both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly and reaching Governor Abigail Spanberger's desk. However, in June 2026, Governor Spanberger vetoed the legislation after the General Assembly rejected her proposed amendments to the bill.

Key players

Mark Miller — Chair, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors (Midlothian District)
Jessica Schneider — Clover Hill District Supervisor
Jim Ingle — Bermuda District Supervisor
Glen Sturtevant — State Senator (R–Chesterfield/Colonial Heights)
Abigail Spanberger — Governor of Virginia
Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors — County governing body opposing state legislation

Key dates

2026-02-25 — Chesterfield Board of Supervisors meeting where opposition to state bills expressed
2026-03-05 — Virginia Senate voted down HB816 (multifamily housing bill), 22–17
2026-03-06 — Chesterfield supervisors' op-ed published in Richmond Times-Dispatch
2026-05-23 — Governor's action deadline for HB1263/SB378 (collective bargaining bills)
2026-06-13 — Governor Spanberger's veto of HB1263/SB378 became effective

The case for

Proponents of both bills argued they address legitimate policy goals: HB816 supporters contended that mandating multifamily zoning in commercial corridors would increase housing supply and affordability by removing local barriers to density, without dictating specific housing quality or style. Collective bargaining advocates (including State Senator Mike Jones) argued that public employees deserve the right to negotiate wages and working conditions collectively, a protection long denied to Virginia's government workforce, and that fair compensation and stable employment are essential to attracting and retaining quality teachers, school staff, and public servants.

The case against

Chesterfield supervisors and state legislators representing the county argued that both bills overrode local decision-making authority. On housing, they contended that HB816's one-size-fits-all mandate prevented communities from crafting zoning that reflects local character, infrastructure capacity, and residents' preferences. On collective bargaining, they cited substantial fiscal impact analyses showing that unionization could add hundreds of millions in salary and benefits costs to county budgets—costs that would ultimately burden taxpayers or force cuts to services—and argued that localities should retain flexibility to manage their own workforce and compensation practices. Supervisors viewed state preemption as a fundamental threat to local governance.

Why it matters: These bills directly affect Chesterfield residents' property taxes, housing options, and local government services. The collective bargaining veto preserved the county's budget flexibility, but HB816's defeat in the Senate suggests ongoing tension over state-mandated housing policy. Future General Assemblies may revisit housing mandates or labor rights, making this early show of local opposition significant precedent for county-state power struggles that shape development, zoning, and spending across Virginia.

Places

Chesterfield County
Richmond (Virginia General Assembly)+Chesterfield+VA)

Development timeline

2026-02-25
Chesterfield supervisors warn against state bills: At a February board meeting, supervisors including Jim Ingle express opposition to HB816 and collective bargaining legislation, urging residents to contact state lawmakers [[source]](https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2026-03-06/chesterfield-ga-bills-unions-housing-schneider-ingle-sturtevant-jones)
2026-03-05
Virginia Senate defeats HB816: Senate votes 22–17 against HB816, which would have required 75% of commercial zones to allow by-right multifamily housing [[source]](https://www.arlnow.com/2026/03/05/va-senate-defeats-bill-supporting-by-right-multifamily-development-in-commercial-zones/)
2026-03-06
Chesterfield supervisors publish op-ed opposing state bills: Full Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors publishes op-ed in Richmond Times-Dispatch condemning HB816 and collective bargaining legislation as threats to local authority [[source]](https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2026-03-06/chesterfield-ga-bills-unions-housing-schneider-ingle-sturtevant-jones)
2026-03-30
Virginia General Assembly passes HB1263 and SB378: Both chambers approve collective bargaining bills; legislation sent to Governor Spanberger for signature [[source]](https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/spanberger-vetoes-state-collective-bargaining-bill/article_0347a3db-e18e-450b-a515-96ed98bbc4dc.html)
2026-06-13
Governor Spanberger vetoes collective bargaining bills: Governor vetoes HB1263/SB378 after General Assembly rejected her proposed amendments; collective bargaining for public employees remains prohibited in Virginia [[source]](https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/spanberger-vetoes-state-collective-bargaining-bill/article_0347a3db-e18e-450b-a515-96ed98bbc4dc.html)

Sources

#Chesterfield County#local government authority#state legislation#HB816#multifamily housing#zoning#HB1263#SB378#collective bargaining#public employees#fiscal impact

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