Virginia Legislature Begins Work

Virginia Legislature Begins Work

By Senator Scott A. Surovell

 The first week of the 2025 regular session of the General Assembly which began on January 7 was one of the more bizarre starts I have ever experienced.

            While Fairfax County got around eight inches of snow, Richmond had three inches, but the snow managed to take down the entire public water system for six days.  Two backup systems failed along with a switch and several pumps.  This forced General Assembly leaders to gavel in on the first day of the session and then recess until January 13.

            While the lack of water meant a slow start, we have plenty to do.  I am carrying approximately 25 bills and about 30 budget amendments, and have responsibilities as Senate Majority Leader, Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee, the General Government Subcommittee of the Finance and Appropriations Committee and the Cannabis Subcommittee of the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.

            For now, I’ll single out several of my bills that have a direct impact on our area.  First, we  continue to see many collisions on the south George Washington Memorial Parkway (“the Parkway”) at Belle Haven Road and Belleview Boulevard. I have received numerous complaints about excessive speeds and a lack of enforcement by the United States Park Police, especially in the wake of the Bijan Ghaisar shooting.  I have introduced a bill to authorize the Virginia State Police and Fairfax County Police Department to conduct traffic enforcement on the Parkway and to allow those agencies to install photo speed monitoring devices. 

             A second bill I have proposed addresses access to health care facilities.  People entering and leaving a women’s health clinic in our community have experienced significant harassment.  My bill requires anyone picketing a health care facility to stay at least 40 feet away from the main entrance and to refrain from obstructing access or leafletting patients in that zone. This is similar to the state’s rules for polling places. 

Holding the Line on Property Taxes

            In 2016, MGM opened a new casino at National Harbor and announced that one-third of their revenue would come from Virginia customers.  I wrote a column in the Richmond Times Dispatch arguing that Virginia needs to embrace casino gaming or else we would be exporting hundreds of millions of Virginia tax dollars to Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, states that have casinos.  Last year, the National Harbor casino grossed $850 million in tax revenue for Maryland and Prince George’s County. One-third of those dollars came from Virginia.

           I have introduced legislation to authorize the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to put a referendum on the ballot to allow Fairfax County voters to vote on a casino in Tyson’s Corner. Experts estimate that it could generate at least $100 million for Fairfax County, which equals about three percent of Fairfax County’s current real estate taxes or about $300 per year per Fairfax County household. 

           For too long, Fairfax County has relied on real estate taxes for revenue and since at least 1970, the county has attempted to diversity its tax base by attracting more commercial office space, but commercial space valuations are cratering due to remote work.  This is in part why Fairfax County now has the highest real estate tax rate in all of Virginia (except for Falls Church).  This project would take pressure off your real estate taxes.

            A casino would be only five percent of the entire floor space because the bill also requires the project to include a 1.5-million-square-foot entertainment complex and convention center.  Fairfax County is larger than eight states and does not have a place to host 1,000+ person conventions, events that can also generate significant revenue.

The project will create 2,000 union construction jobs and 5,000 permanent union casino jobs, opening doors for non-college-educated and other workers to both live and work in Fairfax County. 

            Every year since I was elected in 2009, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has asked for authority to diversify their revenue sources.   Two years ago, the General Assembly gave the county the same taxing authority as cities.  This bill is one more step to help keep your taxes down. 

            Please email me at scott@scottsurovell.org if you have any feedback.  It is an honor to serve as your state senator.  

Winter Storm Blair

Last night Winter Storm Blair arrived in our region.  It will stay with us throughout the day, additional snowfall is expected Monday night, and cleanup efforts will continue for days after.  As much as a foot or more of snow is projected in some areas, and with temperatures climbing into the mid-30s during the day, there will likely be very icy conditions for a couple days.

A fresh snowstorm is expected to arrive this coming weekend, and while it is expected to be less severe, it will make cleanup and recovery more challenging.  I'm sharing in this post a number of resources you can use to keep informed and stay safe for as long as these conditions last.

Fairfax County Public Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed today, along with all extracurricular and recreational activities.  For more information on when they will be open you can visit their website for up-to-date information.

Click here for Fairfax Schools current alerts

Virginia Department of Transportation

VDOT has been hard at work since before the storm arrived to prepare our roads and highways.  However, VDOT is asking that Virginians do not travel today unless absolutely necessary, as dangerous driving conditions exist and are difficult to predict.  While the capacity of our roads is limited, it is important that first responders be able to traverse them, as well as crews from VDOT and our utilities.

The Northern Virginia District has over 17,000 residential streets that VDOT needs to treat, so it may be some time before your neighborhood is cleared.  To monitor road conditions you can visit 511.vdot.virginia.gov, download the VDOT mobile app, or call 511 from any phone in Virginia.  VDOT also offers a real time VDOT Plows map where you can track their progress.

Public Transit

Metrobus will be offering limited service, with 42 of 193 bus routes operational.  You can find specific information about available bus service at WMATA's Severe Snow Routes page.  Metrorail is expected to continue operating without interruption, excepting a planned closure of the Archives rail station due to the funeral of President Jimmy Carter from January 6-9th.  For up-to-date information as the storm progresses and cleanup continues visit MetroPulse.

Utility Service

The initial snowfall is just the beginning of the challenge this storm will present to our utilities. As snow melts, refreezes, and melts and refreezes again, the risk of downed powerlines continues.

If you are a Dominion customer and you lose power, there are three easy ways to report your outage and track your restoration time: 1) Dominion Energy mobile apps, iPhone [apps.apple.com] and Google [play.google.com]; 2) Dominion Energy website; or 3) Call 866-DOM-HELP (866-366-4357).

Customers of Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative can log into NOVEC SmartHub, call (703) 335-0500, or text "#OUT" to 85700.

If you witness a downed pole or power line, please stay a safe distance away and call 866-DOM-HELP.

Gas service is less likely to be impacted by the storm, but home heating is critical until the storm abates.  Anyone experiencing service disruption should call 844-WASHGAS, and remember that you should NEVER use an oven or range top to heat your home.  For other tips on preparedness and safety during wintry conditions visit their Winter Preparedness page.

Services for Unsheltered and Homeless

Fairfax County's Hypothermia Prevention Program, operating since 2005, offers extra resources for those struggling with homelessness during dangerous times such as this.  Anyone seeking information about services can call (703) 222-0880 or one of these locations:

Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter (12970 Katherine Hanley Court, Fairfax; 571-522-6800)
Embry Rucker Community Shelter (11975 Bowman Town Drive, Reston; 703-437-1975)
Patrick Henry Family Shelter (3080 Patrick Henry Drive, Falls Church; 703-536-2155)
Next Steps Family Program (Various Locations Countywide; 703-360-1727)  

Constituent Services

The scope of the legislative session is limited by the Constitution of Virginia, so only in the most severe weather conditions will we stop our work.  Though many state offices are closed due to the weather, I am in Richmond at the General Assembly Building for committee meetings as we prepare to begin the Legislative Session on Wednesday.  If you need assistance in contacting any of these needed government services during this ongoing wintry disruption, please do not hesitate to email my office at senatorsurovell@senate.virginia.gov.