General Assembly | FFXnow

Published May 12, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated May 13, 2026 at 1:08PM

Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez and public service workers rally outside the Fairfax County Government Center May 6. (Courtesy SEIU)

Fairfax County firefighters, teachers and other public sector workers recently rallied outside the county government center, asking Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign legislation granting public workers the right to engage in collective bargaining.

The May 6 rally was one of several held around the commonwealth by unions, including the Virginia Education Association, the International Association of Firefighters, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), in support of HB 1263 and SB 378.

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JUST IN: Va. Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting plan, giving GOP a win

By Associated Press

Published May 8, 2026 at 11:05AM | Updated May 8, 2026 at 6:52PM

A person votes in the Virginia redistricting referendum at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Burke, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

By DAVID A. LIEB and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan, delivering another major setback to the party in a nationwide battle against Republicans for an edge in this year’s midterm elections.

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In wake of Fairfax murder-suicide, new Va. laws aim to prevent similar violence

By Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury

Published April 29, 2026 at 10:00AM

A Fairfax County Police Department vehicle parked in the driveway of Cerina and Justin Fairfax's house in Annandale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Editor’s note: This story references domestic violence and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with this issue, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be called or texted at 988. You can also visit the website.

Two years before Dr. Cerina Fairfax was shot and killed by her husband, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, she had tried to leave him.

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Va. Supreme Court considers whether to block voter-approved US House map favoring Democrats

By Associated Press

Published April 27, 2026 at 11:15AM | Updated April 27, 2026 at 2:18PM

Signs are seen outside the Fairfax County Government Center during the Virginia redistricting referendum, Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

By GARY D. ROBERTSON and DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Supreme Court judges on Monday questioned whether the state’s Democratic-led legislature complied with constitutional requirements when it sent a congressional redistricting plan to voters, in a case that carries high stakes for the balance of power in the U.S. House.

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Virginia’s first paid family and medical leave program in pipeline under Boysko legislation

By Emily Leayman

Published April 24, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated April 24, 2026 at 4:16PM

State Sen. Jennifer Boysko speaks at a town hall in McLean as Del. Rip Sullivan looks on (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A paid family and medical leave program will be set up for the first time in Virginia after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation from Fairfax County state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) and Prince William County Del. Briana Sewell (D-25).

Boysko, who represents Reston, Herndon, Great Falls and McLean in the Virginia Senate, told FFXnow she has worked on the legislation for eight years.

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General Assembly rejects amended bill on collective bargaining for public workers

By Emily Leayman

Published April 23, 2026 at 2:45PM

Public workers associated with unions called for Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign the original legislation expanding collective bargaining rights (via Bert Shepherd)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D)’s substitute to Fairfax County legislators’ collective bargaining bill has been rejected by the Virginia General Assembly.

The General Assembly is holding a reconvened session to consider the governor’s amended and vetoed bills, including SB 378 and HB 1263 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) and Del. Kathy Tran (D-18). The General Assembly did not take up Spanberger’s substitute to the legislation yesterday or today (Thursday).

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BREAKING: Va. voters approve redistricting amendment, as Fairfax results pour in

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published April 21, 2026 at 9:10PM

A "vote yes" sign for the April 21 special election on the redistricting constitutional amendment outside the Vienna Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia voters appear to have approved a constitutional amendment to allow a one-time, mid-decade redistricting effort in today’s tightly contested special election.

While opponents initially led based on early voting, ballots reported later in the evening by Fairfax County and other heavily Democratic jurisdictions in Northern Virginia tipped the scales in favor of supporters, according to preliminary results reported by the Virginia Department of Elections.

News

Spanberger proposes delaying start of retail marijuana sales allowed by Fairfax delegate’s bill

By Emily Leayman

Published April 16, 2026 at 1:45PM

Person weighs marijuana (via Add Weed/Unsplash)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has proposed amendments to marijuana legislation that include delaying the launch of a recreational sales marketplace for adults.

The governor’s substitute for HB 642 and SB 542 would move the start of the legal retail market for marijuana from Jan. 1 to July, 1, 2027. It also changes marijuana possession limit from 2.5 to 2 ounces — still up from the current 1-ounce possession limit — and reduced the number of permitted stores from 350 to 200 until Jan. 1, 2029.

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Fairfax County supervisors hope to move beyond annual battles over Tysons casino

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 15, 2026 at 10:00AM

Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn with anti-casino forces in 2025 (courtesy Hunter Mill District Office)

Fairfax County supervisors opposed to a bill that would’ve allowed a casino in Tysons said this week they hope Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of the legislation puts an end to the matter once and for all.

“This has been a distraction — our residents have been traumatized,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said at the Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

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Fairfax senator decries ‘toothless’ amendments to bills restricting ICE activities

By Emily Leayman

Published April 14, 2026 at 2:30PM

Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (photo via Senator's Office)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has recommended changes to bills on immigration enforcement from a Fairfax County state senator.

State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37) had introduced Senate versions of the bills to restrict federal immigration enforcement in certain places, prevent law enforcement from wearing masks and ban state and local law enforcement agreements with federal immigration enforcement.