Your NVAR government affairs team continues to work tirelessly to ensure your business is protected during the pandemic. This work includes:

• Urging Governor Northam (D) allow Realtors® to continue doing business.
• Ensuring Clerk of Courts offices remain open so transactions can move to closing.
• Hosting informative discussions to bring the latest public policy information to you.
• Following the Governor’s action on Realtor® legislation passed during the 2020 Virginia legislative session.

Coronavirus Advocacy FAQs: RE Transactions, Independent Contractors, NAR Grants

NAR’s Federal Advocacy team has been working closely with Congress and the Administration to ensure the interests of Realtors® and their clients are protected in any federal action in response to COVID-19, in addition to minimizing transaction disruptions during these very difficult circumstances. As the actions out of Washington evolve daily, below are a number of Q&As to address the ongoing actions being proposed and implemented in response to the pandemic.
https://narfocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/26/3594.pdf

Watch Now: Update from Chairman McKay and Congressman Connolly

NVAR was pleased to host a webinar with Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay and County Executive Bryan Hill along with Congressman Gerry Connolly to talk about local and national efforts regarding COVID-19. Listen to the webinar to hear about the Clerk of Court and electronic real estate filings, e-notaries, budgetary impacts on the County, and the CARES Bill, the largest single bill ever passed by Congress.
Watch the webinar here.

Absentee Voting Encouraged During Outbreak

The  Virginia Department of Elections  encourages voters to protect their health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Voting absentee by mail in the May 5 City of Fairfax, Vienna and Clifton Elections and the June Primary Election is strongly encouraged.

All voters are eligible to choose reason "My disability or illness" for absentee voting. 

The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you for the May 5 Town/City elections is Tuesday, April 28, 2020 . Your request must be received by your Registrar by 5:00 p.m.

Click here to request your absentee ballot: https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation

NVAR Webinar: Navigating the 2020 Election Amid COVID-19

As the turbulence of the presidential primaries has given way to social distancing and “stay at home” orders, the nation's political leadership is being put to the test at a critical phase of the 2020 election. What impact will the global pandemic have on the race?

Please join NVAR Government Affairs for a webinar with US House Editor for the  Cook Political Report  David Wasserman  as he draws on his extensive research on demographic and cultural trends to answer this question. 

COMING SOON: Be on the look-out for an announcement with the date and time for this fascinating look at the 2020 elections.

Fairfax and Alexandria Counties Taxes Update

At the March 24 Fairfax County Board meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved two separate resolutions. The first resolution extends the deadline to file returns for Personal Property Taxes  by both individuals and businesses to June 1, 2020. The second  extends the deadline to pay the first half of Real Estate taxes  to August 28, 2020.

At an emergency meeting of the Alexandria City Council, the Council imposed a  moratorium on penalties and fees for the late payment of the Restaurant Meals Tax, Transient Occupancy Taxes (including taxes on short-term rentals) and BPOL taxes  during the COVID-19 emergency extending until June 30, 2020. This moratorium extends to taxes that have already been remitted for February 2020. Businesses that have already remitted those taxes may request a refund from the city.

Northern Virginia Local Government Operational Status

See the list and links to county websites here.