February 27, 2026 Legislative Committee - Feb 27, 2026

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Fairfax County Board Committees 1h 9m 3 speakers 5 agenda items transcribed 2 days ago official recording ↗

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What updates were provided on the FY 2027 budget proposals from the House and Senate?

Andres F. Jimenez 0:01

Good afternoon and welcome to the February twenty seventh meeting of the Legislative Committee. As our busiest time of the year gets underway with the county executive presenting his proposal of the FY twenty twenty seven budget last week, the twenty twenty six legislative session is quickly ending. With the German now less than two weeks away. We did not hold a legislative committee last week as many of us were in Richmond for the annual reception with our Fairfax County General Assembly delegation. was a great opportunity to continue connecting, collaborating and discussing our priorities. Last Sunday, both the House and Senate chambers presented their budget proposals. As such, our format will look a little bit different this week.

Andres F. Jimenez 0:44

After an update of our county initiatives, we will move directly into a high level overview of both chambers budget proposals and allow time for questions. immediately following each presentation. There are no bills set for discussion today. We will instead immediately move to recommended bills and finally legislative updates. Before I pass it over to Jennifer, I want to highlight the progress on legislation related to our housing bills and our housing bills for local employees. HB 164, co-patroned by many of our Fairfax County representatives, eliminates current restrictions on home ownership grants that localities may provide to their employers. This gives local governments a practical tool to help our workforce.

Andres F. Jimenez 1:30

afford to live in the communities they serve and support long-term workforce retention. One on an one additional note, and with perfect timing during National Evasive Species Awareness Week, the Uh, we have a lot of the Senator Saddam Salim's bill on evasive species passed the House and is awaiting vote in the Senate. This legislation aligns closely with Fairfax County's evasive species ordinance that we adopted two years ago. With that being said, Jennifer, I will now pass it on to you.

Jennifer Vaney 1:58

Jennifer Vaney, Legislative Director. Uh thank you, Chairman. Welcome to Two Weeks Before. So uh last Sunday was budget Sunday, but uh let's first give you an update on our three initiatives. Um the Urban Public Private Partnership Fund is still in the exact same phase it has been the last several times we talked. The Senate passed a study version, it will come before House Rules. I have talked with that chairman I am ha I'm a I'm optimistic, but that is a something where a lot of bills die. So we're hopeful a study at least gets through to use a tool for the future. Um but that's where that one stands and I'll turn it over to Laurie to talk about the park authority.

Lori Sims 2:37

Uh Lori Sims, I just wanted to let everybody know that H B two fifty that Watts carried on our behalf has passed the Senate unanimously. Um so uh uh just as a recap for everybody, it passed the House and it passed the Senate. Um so we're excited to hear about uh the legislative legislation carrying all the way through.

Christine Prentiss 3:04

Good afternoon, uh Christine Prentiss, um government relations associate for Fairfax County DOT. Um Uh yes last night in Senate Transportation H B fifty five our muffler bill uh passed out of committee uh seven to six with two abstentions. It will be on the floor early next week uh of the Senate and we will be pushing hard to get it get it through there. Thank you.

Jennifer Vaney 3:36

All right, we'll roll right into the budget. I'm gonna um invite our DMB support up to the table. Um I just wanted to start off a discussion to give you a little bit of the lay of the land. So Um a lot of years when the House and the Senate will have different budgets and different priorities. Um this year they are actually very fundamentally different and so it's we're gonna go through some of the details, but it's very unclear at this point what what of each budget will Go into because not only Are the budgets different in how they're choosing to spend money? The Senate put a tax proposal in to sunset the data center sales tax exemption, which gives them an additional one point two billion dollars to spend.

Jennifer Vaney 4:20

Um and so that just means that these budgets are fundamentally different.