General Assembly

Published August 6, 2026 at 10:00AM

Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Back-to-school shoppers will have an extra incentive to grab their school supplies, clothes and other items this weekend in Fairfax County and across the state.

Virginia will hold its annual three-day sales tax holiday, from Friday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 9. Over the three days, the state and local option sales taxes are temporarily waived on qualifying clothing, footwear and school supplies, as well as emergency preparedness products and some appliances. The tax exemption applies to in-store and online shopping, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

News

Janet Howell, longtime former state senator in Fairfax County, dies at 82

By Emily Leayman

Published August 3, 2026 at 10:00AM

Virginia Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, watches the vote tally board during the Senate session at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va., March 7, 2020. Howell, the veteran Democratic Virginia state senator who co-chairs her chamber’s finance committee, announced Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, that she will not seek re-election. (via Steve Helber/Associated Press file)

Janet Howell, a former Democratic state senator who had represented parts of Fairfax County for decades, has died at age 82.

Howell was first elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991, taking office in 1992 as senator for the 32nd Senate District. The district included Reston, Tysons, Wolf Trap, northern Chantilly and portions of McLean and Arlington County. Before retiring on Jan. 10, 2024, Howell was the longest-serving woman in the state Senate alongside current President pro tempore Louise Lucas (D-18). When Democrats took control of the chamber in 2019, she was the first woman to chair the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.

Countywide

Fairfax board seeks timeline for anticipated vehicle noise monitoring pilot

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

Exhaust pipes for a BMW car parked in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County leaders are eager to get a jump start on a new option to automate monitoring for excessive vehicle noise.

The county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on July 14 to direct County Executive Bryan Hill to report a timeline by this fall for implementing the authority newly granted by the General Assembly to Fairfax and some other Virginia localities.

News

Fairfax City seeks voter referendum on sales tax to fund school improvements

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 20, 2026 at 10:00AM

Fairfax City Hall (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Fairfax City voters will decide in November whether to approve a general retail sales tax increase of up to 1% that could generate up to $13.5 million to fund construction projects and long-term maintenance of the city’s schools.

The Fairfax City Council voted unanimously last Tuesday (July 14) to request that the Fairfax Circuit Court order a special election on Nov. 3 asking voters whether the city should levy the tax. Long sought by the city, the ability to implement the sales tax was authorized by the General Assembly’s new state budget late last month.

Countywide

Fairfax County school board voices support for sales tax referendum to fund construction projects

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published July 16, 2026 at 11:45AM

An electronic voting ballot marking device for people with disabilities (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County School Board recently passed a resolution affirming its support for a possible 1% sales tax to fund its $400 million backlog of maintenance and capital improvement projects.

In light of the new state budget adopted by the Virginia General Assembly late last month allowing local jurisdictions to increase their sales tax rate up to 1% to support education and transportation, the school board voted unanimously on July 9 to ask the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to place the issue before voters as a referendum during a general election.

Countywide

Taxes, paid leave program on minds of N. Va. business leaders after General Assembly session

By Emily Leayman

Published July 15, 2026 at 8:30AM

Capital One Center in Tysons on a misty morning (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Optimism among Northern Virginia business leaders is improving, although some expressed worries about taxes and the state’s approval of a paid family and medical leave program.

That’s according to the second-quarter 2026 Business Leader Survey released last week by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and public relations firm Pinkston, revealing the sentiments of the region’s CEOs, senior executives and business owners.

News

Vienna lands $1M from state for future W&OD Trail visitor’s center

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 14, 2026 at 2:45PM

Pedestrians and cyclists on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail approach the Maple Avenue crossing in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Commonwealth of Virginia is putting some money behind plans to add a visitor center at the heart of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail.

The two-year state budget adopted by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in late June includes $1 million for the Town of Vienna to help acquire the land needed for the future hub, a project spearheaded by the W&OD Railroad Regional Park’s owner, NOVA Parks.

Countywide

Va. budget creates state climate office at George Mason University

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 10, 2026 at 3:45PM

Virginia Climate Center Director James Kinter (courtesy George Mason University)

Virginia is creating a new office focused on studying the impacts of climate change, and it will be housed at George Mason University.

Mason was authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office by a provision in the state budget that took effect on July 1 after last-minute negotiations between Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the General Assembly. The governor ultimately signed the two-year spending plan into law on June 29 — just before the end of the fiscal year.

Countywide

Fairfax County begins to assess local impact of changes to state cannabis laws

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

Cannabis cultivation (via Richard T/The CDB on Unsplash)

Fairfax County leaders have begun working to determine what local steps are needed to implement changes in state cannabis laws, and what regulatory powers they will have.

“We want to make sure we put in place what we need to put in place,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said at the July 7 meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Policy Committee.

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders, staff gear up for impacts of ‘Faith in Housing’ legislation

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Fairfax County approved plans in 2025 for townhouse development on part of St. Paul's Lutheran Church's property in Idylwood received Fairfax County's approval (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County staff are beginning preparations for adhering to a new state law loosening zoning regulations on development of affordable housing.

Legislation known by proponents as the “Faith in Housing” bills was enacted by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) earlier this year. Set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, it requires localities to establish a streamlined process for construction of affordable units on land owned by religious organizations or nonprofit groups.