Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines from around the Northern Virginia Region, the Commonwealth and on Capitol Hill.

1. The Richmond Report: Realtor® Advocacy in Action at the General Assembly  Closing out the third full week of session, the Realtor® state legislative agenda is faring well.  Read NVAR’s report on the General Assembly through the first weeks of the session. Also: See a video message from NVAR CEO Ryan McLaughlin on healthcare legislation in Virginia!

2. Virginia SCC Releases Opinion on Split Settlements
On February 4, 2022, the Virginia Bureau of Insurance issued a bulletin regarding so-called "Split Settlements." Your associations are seeking further guidance and clarification on this issue and will provide an update as soon as one is available. This is just a clarification of existing law and will not necessitate any change in the NVAR Residential Sales Contract. In the meantime, here is what you need to know regarding the selection of Settlement Agents and the current state of the law

3. Fairfax PLUS Customer Service Platform Expands to Include More Land Use Applications The Planning Land Use System (PLUS) platform has expanded to include more applications in the centralized online platform that is transforming how industry and residents conduct land use business with Fairfax County. The transition to PLUS represents a critical modernization of the county’s planning and land use infrastructure. Whether you are a homeowner looking to add a deck or a homebuilder planning new homes, the PLUS portal is your one-stop-shop for applications. 

4. The Region Wants to Hear From You About the State of Housing in Our Community! Take the Regional Fair Housing Survey Northern Virginia and Metro DC Localities are participating in a Regional Fair Housing Survey. Local jurisdictions in DC, Maryland and Virginia are joining forces to address fair housing issues in our region. We want to hear from you about housing choice in our communities. Survey responses will help housing, human rights and public housing staff in the DMV plan investments for the next five years to improve housing choice and reverse segregation in our region and our communities. Please fill out this survey if you live or work DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince William.

5. Senator pulls short-term rental bill, alleviating concern among Virginia Beach civic leagues If short-term rental regulations are to loosen in Virginia Beach, it will come down to a court decision, not a vote by this year’s General Assembly, says Sen. Bill DeSteph, who withdrew Monday a bill he introduced on the issue. New short-term rental properties are only allowed with neighborhood approval and subject to parking and occupancy requirements in Virginia Beach. DeSteph has said those restraints harm local real estate companies who specialize in vacation rentals. His bill proposed lifting those requirements.

6. House panel advances bill giving localities power to sue ‘slumlords,’ tables other tenant protections Landlords who don’t fix dangerous living conditions could face lawsuits from local governments under a new bill advanced by a House of Delegates subcommittee Thursday. H.B. 802, proposed by Del. Marcia “Cia” Price, D-Newport News, would empower cities, counties and towns to take “slumlords” to court if they refuse to fix up their properties. The House’s General Laws Subcommittee #2 passed the bill on a 6-0 vote.

7. New Parking Regulations Adopted by Herndon Town Council At its public hearing on January 25, the Herndon Town Council voted unanimously to amend the town’s existing parking regulation ordinance, an action that addresses safety concerns and quality-of-life issues on the town’s streets and in residential neighborhoods.