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. NAR Releases Statement After White House Unveils Action Plan to Address Appraisal Bias
National Association of Realtors® President Leslie Rouda Smith issued the following statement today after the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released their Action Plan to address appraisal bias and the home appraisal process.
2. Our 2022 Legislative Agenda Passed… Now What?
Now that our Legislative Agenda has passed the General Assembly by 1,386 “yes” votes to only four “no” votes, are we done? Not quite. After legislation passes the General Assembly, everything is sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin for his administration’s review. The Governor has approximately 30 days to decide to approve, amend, or veto any piece of legislation. Fortunately for us, we’re not anticipating any vetoes this year.
3. Gas tax holiday could hamper Northern Virginia transit agencies
Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to offer Virginia’s drivers some relief at the pump amid rising gas prices, but that relief could mean trouble for the region’s transit agencies and riders. Youngkin’s plan for a three-month suspension of the state’s gas tax followed by a phased-in return of the tax could end up cutting nearly $30 million from Northern Virginia’s bus and rail transit systems, according to an analysis from Virginians for High-Speed Rail and the Virginia Transit Association.
4. Enforcement and Mitigation Options Adopted to Control Running Bamboo In Fairfax County
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to amend a zoning ordinance that will provide greater enforcement powers for the county to control the spread of running bamboo. Running bamboo is an invasive species and can quickly spread to neighboring properties. Once established, it can be very difficult to remove.
5. Affordable Housing Goal Doubled By Fairfax County Supervisors
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday to build 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034, doubling its previous goal.
Related: Can 3D concrete printing solve Virginia’s affordable housing crisis?