As the General Assembly debates several proposed gun control measures, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors wants to make it clear where it stands.
Livingston District Supervisor Jacob Lane took time during Thursday’s board meeting to reiterate the county’s vote to approve a resolution in 2019 describing Spotsylvania as a “Second Amendment sanctuary,” meaning that the sheriff’s office will not enforce state-level gun laws that many believe infringe on constitutional rights.
A state Senate committee advanced several gun control bills this week that will now advance to the full Senate, including making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, buy, own, or transport an assault firearm.
Board of Supervisors Chair Lori Hayes said it was imperative to add a discussion about state legislation to Thursday’s agenda because of “how quickly things are coming down.”
“It is my intention to assure the residents of Livingston that we are still a Second Amendment sanctuary county, and we will be paying close attention to the bills that will be coming out of Richmond,” Lane said. “I will do my absolute best to help protect those citizens and our constitutional values here in Spotsylvania.”
Another bill that has the county’s attention is Del. Joshua Cole’s (D-Fredericksburg) proposed legislation to require any locality in Planning District 16 with more than 150,000 residents, based on 2020 census data, to join a Regional Transportation Authority.
Spotsylvania had 140,032 residents during the 2020 “decennial census,” which is conducted every 10 years, and is the language used in the bill’s draft.
Stafford County is the only location in the planning district, which includes Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Caroline and King George, to fall into that category. However, Fredericksburg officials have expressed support for an RTA. The Spotsylvania board, in its legislative priorities, requested that the state not force it into an RTA. The Caroline and King George boards also do not support a local RTA.
Spotsylvania Deputy County Administrator Mark Cole, who, during Thursday’s meeting, provided a tutorial to the public about how to track legislation, told the supervisors not to overreact to the RTA bill because it currently doesn’t impact Spotsylvania. He believes Fredericksburg and Stafford will form an RTA and hope it becomes attractive for Spotsylvania to join later.
“I think we should be neutral on it right now,” Mark Cole said.
In other business, the county began the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, which was last refreshed in 2021. The plan establishes goals, objectives, and policies to guide future development. County officials conducted outreach to the public for its opinion, including a comprehensive plan survey that started Aug. 1, 2025, and ends Saturday.
The county will update its vision statement, which currently reads: “Spotsylvania families will enjoy a community that remembers and respects its place in our nation’s history and builds on the principles of our founding fathers to provide freedom and prosperity through limited government, respect for property rights, low taxes and pro-business policies for the 21st century.”
The board agreed to revise the statement to become more progressive, meshing elements of its strategic plan vision statement which includes more vibrant language.
“I think the current vision statement locks us into a parameter that is not very forward thinking,” Salem District Supervisor Deborah Frazier said … “I would hope that we would be able to modify that vision statement.”
The Comprehensive Plan discussion also featured a conversation about a potential route to connect River Road to State Route 3 to assist with inner-county traffic flow. Supervisors stressed that the plan should not be confused with the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s attempt to construct a Rappahannock River crossing.
Battlefield District Supervisor Chris Yakabouski said he’s not opposed to the connection route but added that River Road is already experiencing issues that disrupt its “scenic” nature.
“Tying River Road into Route 3 closing in on the Five-Mile Fork area, how is that going to look for River Road when River Road already has issues with being a cut-through?” Yakabouski said. “This would make it even more of an attractive cut-through.”
The board will continue the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan throughout the year, with a final revision scheduled for late fall or early winter.
