Winter Weather Resources

 

 

Snow Information Fairfax Sign up for Fairfax County Emergency Alerts and follow the Fairfax County Emergency Blog. For questions about snow removal, shoveling, or other winter weather related questions, visit the County's snow webpage here. City of Falls Church Save this link for all City of Falls Church winter information and resources: Winter Weather Central. VDOT and The Roads | VDOT owns the majority of roads in Fairfax County and they are in charge of plowing them. To report hazardous road conditions, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-367-7623 or visit online. Track road conditions and get VDOT Plows updates online. Fairfax County Police | For Emergencies, dial 911. For Non-Emergencies 703-691-2131, TTY 703-204-2264, https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/fairfax-county-police-department Public Schools Fairfax County Public School updates City of Falls Church Public School updates Power Outages Dominion | Report a power outage online here or call 1-866-366-4357. NOVEC | Report a power outage online here or call 703-335-0500. Report Other Utility Problems Verizon | 1-800-837-4966 Cox | 703-378-8422, text 54512 Comcast/Xfinity | 800-934-6489 Washington Gas Emergency | 844-927-4427, select option 1, TTY 711 or 800-735-2258 Columbia Gas | 800-544-5606, TTY 800-231-3238 Fairfax Water | 703-698-5600, After Hours Emergency, 703-698-5613 Hypothermia Shelters | If you see someone who is unsheltered and you think they are at risk of hypothermia, call the County’s non-emergency police phone number: 703-691-2131. For City of Falls Church | The City Warming Center is at the Community Center through March 31st.

 

The story of Virginia

The story of Virginia cannot be told without the voices, leadership, and resilience of Black Virginians. Their contributions have helped build our Commonwealth and move our nation forward. This is a time to celebrate that legacy, but also to acknowledge that meaningful progress requires honest reflection and continued action to expand opportunity and justice.

That same sense of responsibility—to honor the past while doing the work of the present—has been on full display at the Capitol. Last week marked the final stretch before crossover, the halfway point of the legislative session, when the pace quickens and the days grow longer. Extended House floor sessions and marathon committee meetings are part of this moment, ensuring that every bill receives the careful hearing, debate, and vote it deserves. As hundreds of proposals move forward, our focus remains steady: advancing legislation that delivers real, tangible results for families, workers, and communities across Virginia.

Transparency & Efficiency

Transparency and efficiency remain central to our work. Several bills this session are designed to protect consumers and make public and private systems work more clearly and fairly. HB 484 stops insurers from using automated tools to reduce medical claims unfairly, ensuring patients and providers receive the coverage they are owed. HB 618 improves how health plan information is collected and reported so it is easier for the public and regulators to access. HB 676 allows providers to submit information electronically while requiring insurers to offer payment options without extra fees. In housing, HB 616 and HB 1325 require landlords to provide clear, itemized statements, written leases, and a summary of tenant rights, including disclosures about fees and flood risk.

Affordability

Affordability continues to be a major priority. HB 519 treats air conditioning as an essential service in rental housing, protecting tenants during extreme heat. HB 625 caps out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, while HB 837 expands eviction diversion programs and ensures tenants know about available rental assistance. HB 1005 requires landlords to accept common payment methods and limits extra fees for maintenance. HB 1078 prevents large landlords from denying applicants based on old eviction records. HB 1093 limits excessive attorney fees when tenants pay overdue rent before court, HB 1214 lowers the monthly insulin cap to $35, and HB 1408 protects survivors of family abuse from eviction penalties. These measures make daily life more manageable for Virginians and ensure that fairness guides our laws.

Economic & Social Justice

The House has also advanced a slate of bills on public safety, civil rights, and economic fairness, now under consideration in the Senate. Economic and environmental justice legislation includes HB 1, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2028; HB 4, allowing localities to preserve affordable housing; HB 397, preparing Virginia to re-enter RGGI to combat climate change; and HB 449, giving Virginians the tools to hold powerful companies accountable through class action lawsuits.

Public Safety

Gun violence prevention remains a top priority. HB 21 creates civil accountability for firearm manufacturers. My HB 40 to ban ghost guns once again passed the House. HB 93 prevents illegal firearms from reaching domestic abusers. HB 217 prohibits assault weapons, HB 229 bars firearms in hospitals that provide mental health services, and HB 871 requires safe firearm storage in homes with minors or prohibited individuals. Together, these measures make our communities safer while respecting lawful gun ownership.

Redistricting

With the Governor’s signature on the enabling legislation, the approval of funding in the budget, and the election calendar now finalized, the mid-decade redistricting process is officially underway. The legal framework and resources are now in place to implement the updated congressional district maps, and the timelines for the April 21st election have been set so voters can plan accordingly. Our focus now shifts to executing this process smoothly and transparently to ensure voters have clear information and confidence in the updated congressional districts and upcoming election schedule.

Championing the issues that matter the most to my constituents means showing up, standing up, and lifting up the voices of all our neighbors. It means advancing policies that improve lives, build trust, and create opportunities. Together, we can make Virginia a Commonwealth that works for everyone. And the legislation that is advancing this session is designed to do just that.

2026 Session Sneak Peak

Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Virginians today. Whether it is first-time homebuyers struggling to enter the market, renters facing rising costs, or longtime homeowners navigating increasingly complex real estate and land-record systems, housing costs affect family stability, economic mobility, and community growth across the Commonwealth. These pressures make it especially important that Virginia’s laws governing housing, land use, and real estate transactions are fair, transparent, and responsive to modern realities. 

Against that backdrop, on January 14th the Virginia General Assembly gaveled into session, beginning a constitutionally limited 60-day period in which legislators introduce, debate, and vote on thousands of bills that will shape the Commonwealth for years to come. The pace is fast, the schedule demanding, and the stakes high. In just two months, the House of Delegates and Senate must address issues ranging from public safety and education to consumer protection, transparency in government, and the everyday legal frameworks Virginians rely on but rarely think about until something goes wrong. 

During session, we are also responding to constituent concerns, reviewing the proposed state budget, crafting budget amendments, and meeting with the advocacy and constituent groups that travel to Richmond during session. Despite the hectic schedule, the General Assembly Session offers an opportunity to make meaningful, practical improvements to Virginia law. 

This year, I have introduced legislation across several broad areas with a consistent goal in mind: protecting Virginians, modernizing outdated laws, and ensuring fairness and transparency. 

Several of my bills focus on housing, land records, and real estate transactions. One proposal requires settlement agents to notify homebuyers of their right to remove unlawful restrictive covenants discovered during a title search, helping address the lingering effects of discriminatory language in property records. Other bills strengthen protections against real estate fraud by improving identity verification for notarizations, requiring training for notaries on fraud and financial exploitation, and establishing property alert notification systems so homeowners are notified when documents affecting their property are recorded. I have also introduced measures to clarify recording and indexing fees for complex deeds and to protect property owners correcting fraudulent filings from unnecessary taxes. 

Consumer protection and access to justice are another major focus. I am carrying legislation to establish the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act, which would ensure that default judgments in consumer debt cases are entered only after clear notice and specific disclosures to the consumer. Additional bills protect wages by clarifying garnishment exemptions in bankruptcy and modernize Virginia’s class action procedures to allow consumers harmed by unlawful practices to seek relief collectively. Together, these bills aim to level the playing field between individuals and large institutions. 

Transparency and accountability in government are essential to public trust. I have introduced multiple bills to improve the enforcement of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act by clarifying court procedures and ensuring that penalties for violations are applied fairly and with appropriate consideration of good faith reliance on legal guidance. I am also working on legislation to strengthen election administration by establishing clear standards and procedures for the removal of electoral board members and registrars when serious failures of duty occur. I’ve reintroduced a bill to authorize localities to adopt systems of public campaign financing for local offices, giving communities another tool to encourage participation and encourage campaign finance reform. 

In the same accountability vein, I have legislation to establish better oversight for recovery residences to protect residents and improve transparency. It requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to create minimum certification standards and regulate credentialing agencies. It also prevents conflicts of interest in credentialing while expanding data reporting and public transparency. 

Public safety legislation this session includes updates to Virginia law addressing unserialized firearms and plastic firearms that evade standard detection methods. This “ghost gun” bill closes gaps in existing law while providing delayed effective dates to allow for education and compliance. 

On education, I have a bill requiring public colleges and universities to provide reasonable accommodation for students’ religious beliefs and practices. Other proposals modernize graduation requirements by ensuring students completing International Baccalaureate programs are not subjected to redundant requirements and by allowing appropriate waivers for students with disabilities.  

I have also introduced a bill to abolish the common law crime of suicide in Virginia. Although suicide is not punished under current law, its continued classification as a crime adds stigma and can compound the pain experienced by individuals and families during moments of profound crisis.  

While some of these bills may sound familiar because I have introduced them before, some are new ideas. The next several weeks will move quickly as we work to review all the bills introduced before the crossover deadline in February. In the meantime, I will continue listening to constituents, working with colleagues, and focusing on practical solutions that improve the lives of Virginians. This week marks the beginning of that work. You can view my full legislative agenda online at lis.virginia.gov. 

Richmond Report Wrapped

Tis the season for everyone to get their Spotify / Strava / you-name-it year in review. In my never-ending efforts to make state level politics fun, relevant and on trend, I present to you: Marcus Simon’s Richmond Report “wrapped” as the kids say.  

I’ve had the privilege of sharing 11 monthly columns with readers of the Falls Church News-Press so far in 2025. Each month focused on a specific issue or moment, but together they tell a broader story about where Virginia is, what we value, and the work still ahead. 

At the heart of nearly every column was a simple idea that government should make life better and fairer for the people it serves. Whether we were talking about education funding, transportation, housing affordability, or public safety, the question was always the same. Are we meeting people where they are, and are we delivering results that matter in their daily lives? 

Of course, not everything got better in 2025. For instance, in January, I started with my hope that the Commanders would make it to the Super Bowl. After decades since they last got to play, it looked like there was a real possibility of that happening. Although that didn’t hold true, the larger point was about being hopeful about being back in the game, of having a chance.  

Some good did come out of 2025, though. While our local football team has reverted to form, the Virginia House Democrats turned out to be a real electoral juggernaut. When I was first elected, there were only 33 Democrats in the House. After November’s election results, on January 14, 2026 will have 64. I also had my most successful legislative year in Richmond with 14 of the 16 bills I introduced passing both chambers. 

Protecting fundamental freedoms has also been a major theme this year. I wrote often about the danger of assuming progress is permanent and the responsibility we have to actively defend the rights generations before us fought to secure. During the 2025 Session, we passed the Constitutional Amendments on the right to vote, to reproductive freedom, and to marriage equality. We will pass them again on the first day of the 2026 Session, so that they can be on the ballot in the fall.  

Through the spring and summer, I focused on affordability and the chaos that the Trump Administration thrives on. Virginians are working hard, yet too many families still feel squeezed. Rising housing costs, utility bills, and everyday expenses were top of mind in Richmond this year and in many of these columns. I highlighted efforts to expand affordable housing, strengthen worker protections like paid sick leave, and lower energy costs through efficiency and weatherization. These aren’t flashy policies, but they make a real difference in whether families can stay in the communities they love. 

I also returned again and again to the health of our democracy, particularly as we headed into the fall and election season. That meant writing about fair redistricting, election integrity, and the importance of civic engagement. Democracy depends on participation, transparency, and trust. In a time of heightened polarization, I tried to focus on the practical steps we can take to ensure our system remains responsive and accountable. Working to expand our House Majority and take back the three state-wide offices was integral to ensuring that Virginia stands against federal overreach and protects those that need it the most. We had an unprecedented election night, making it clear how we want to move forward. 

Another theme that cut across many columns was the need to prepare for the future. Whether discussing climate resilience, energy infrastructure, or workforce development, the message was clear: Virginia can’t afford to be reactive. We need to plan now for the challenges coming next, from extreme weather to rapid changes in the economy, and make smart investments that will pay dividends down the road. 

Throughout the year, I also made a point of pulling back the curtain on how the General Assembly works. Richmond can feel distant and opaque, and part of the goal of this column has always been to connect state policy decisions to their local impact. Bills debated hundreds of miles away ultimately shape zoning decisions, classroom sizes, and the cost of living here at home. 

If there’s one overarching takeaway from this year’s columns, it’s that progress is the result of sustained effort, not single moments. Change rarely happens all at once. It happens through persistent advocacy, coalition-building, and showing up month after month, session after session. Thank you for reading and for staying engaged. 

Thank You

What a November we are having here in Falls Church. We started the month out with Virginia’s U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine headlining a rally for then candidate, now Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger at our very own State Theater.

Days later we celebrated an exceptional election night, with unprecedented results, results that made international headlines as many of us predicted they would. Now, as we head into Thanksgiving, I can’t help but reflect on just how much we have to be grateful for here in the Commonwealth.

Virginia voters delivered a pretty clear verdict. They want stable leadership and a state government that does its job without a lot of unnecessary drama. That may sound simple, but it’s no small thing in the current political climate.

The results at the top of the ticket were historic. Abigail Spanberger will become the first woman ever elected Governor of Virginia. Ghazala Hashmi will serve as Lieutenant Governor, making her both the first Indian-American and the first Muslim person elected statewide here. And Jay Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in our history. However you look at it, Virginia voters were ready to break a few barriers.

The House of Delegates saw its own shake-up. Not only did Democrats hold the majority - we grew it, picking up 13 seats for a 64–36 margin. In a chamber where every vote counts, that’s a significant shift. It also means Democrats will hold a 15–7 edge on every standing committee, which is where a lot of real governing actually happens. When people ask whether election results matter, this is one of the clearest examples. Committee control determines which bills get heard, which ideas advance, and which problems get the attention they deserve. It’s the kind of majority that allows us to take meaningful action on the issues voters just told us matter most: strengthening public education, lowering costs for families, protecting reproductive freedom, improving housing affordability, and keeping our communities safe.

As we gather with friends and family later this month, that’s something worth giving thanks for: Virginians showing up, speaking out, and choosing a path of competence, decency, and progress.

None of this happened by accident. It happened because people believed their voices mattered and because they refused to sit on the sidelines. As I look toward Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful for the thousands of Virginians who knocked doors in the cold, made calls after long workdays, contributed what they could, voted early, and encouraged neighbors and friends to do the same. Democracy isn’t something we inherit fully formed, but rather something we build together, season after season, election after election.

But even in a season of gratitude, we can’t overlook the challenges ahead. One of the most significant is redistricting. During last month’s special session, the General Assembly advanced a constitutional amendment to allow Virginia to redraw congressional lines mid-cycle, a step designed to ensure that as other states aggressively manipulate their maps for partisan advantage, Virginia doesn’t get left behind.

Some critics have called this political. I call it fair. Other states are actively redrawing the balance of power. We can’t simply stand still while the ground shifts beneath our feet. This amendment - which must pass again next session before going to the voters - will help ensure our maps remain representative, legal, and equitable.

With the results of this election, we now have the strength, stability, and clarity of purpose to move that effort forward, alongside the rest of the people’s agenda. And as we gather around Thanksgiving tables across the Commonwealth, I hope we take a quiet moment to appreciate that and to reflect on the simple but powerful truth that democracy still works when we show up for it.

This season reminds us that gratitude isn’t passive either. It’s a commitment to care for one another, to invest in our shared future, and to keep building a Commonwealth that reflects our highest values. So today, and throughout this season, I want to say thank you — sincerely. Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for your faith in our process. Thank you for your commitment to keeping Virginia a model of progress, integrity, and good governance. Thank you for showing that when we stand together, we can overcome cynicism, division, and doubt.

Happy almost-Thanksgiving. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you do to keep Virginia moving forward. We enter this next chapter 64 strong and just getting started.

Upholding the Constitution

The office of Attorney General in Virginia is often overlooked, buried down-ballot beneath the governor’s race and even some state legislative contests. But make no mistake: this office is one of the most consequential in the Commonwealth not only for its influence on Virginians’ daily lives, but for its power to check federal overreach when Washington veers off course. In the age of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the party that holds this office will determine whether Virginia stands up for the rule of law or stands aside. 

As the Commonwealth’s chief legal officer, the Attorney General doesn’t just give legal advice or defend state agencies. The AG decides when to sue the federal government, whether to join multi-state coalitions to protect civil rights or the environment, and how aggressively to enforce consumer protection laws. The AG’s opinions can shape state policy for years. When the federal government acts beyond its authority, it’s the state attorneys general who decide whether to fight back or to cooperate. 

That’s why the upcoming race for Virginia Attorney General has drawn national attention and national money. It’s not just about Richmond politics. It’s about whether Virginia will be a firewall for democracy and constitutional order at a time when federal institutions are under pressure to bend to partisan will. 

We’ve already seen what can happen when those institutions bend. In September, Erik Siebert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, reportedly resigned after resisting pressure from Trump administration officials to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, the AG who successfully prosecuted Trump for civil fraud in New York. Federal prosecutors in Virginia concluded there was no probable cause for the charges. But within days of Siebert’s departure, Trump installed Lindsey Halligan, a longtime Trump ally with no prior prosecutorial experience, as interim U.S. Attorney. Halligan promptly presented the case to a grand jury, resulting in an indictment many legal experts viewed as politically motivated. 

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner decried the move as retaliation for Siebert’s refusal to “weaponize federal law enforcement.” The episode underscores a chilling reality that when the independence of the Justice Department is compromised, state attorneys general may be the last line of defense for accountability and constitutional norms. 

During Trump’s first term, Democratic attorneys general from states like California, New York, and Massachusetts successfully blocked dozens of unlawful federal actions - from the travel ban to the rollback of environmental protections to efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. If Virginia’s AG had joined those coalitions, the Commonwealth’s 8.8 million residents would have had a stronger voice in those national fights. 

Instead, under Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, Virginia has charted a different course that aligns closely with Trump-era priorities. Miyares has used his office to investigate locally elected prosecutors, issue politically charged “reports” on Commonwealth’s Attorneys he disagrees with, and withdraw Virginia from multistate coalitions defending abortion rights, voting access, and environmental protections. 

If the next AG shares that philosophy, Virginians should expect the office to cooperate with, rather than check, Trump’s federal agenda even when that agenda undermines state autonomy or civil rights. But if a Democrat wins, the office could once again serve as a counterweight, joining national efforts to protect the rule of law, fight censorship, and preserve basic rights under the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions. 

There is a lot at stake in this election. The Attorney General’s office influences whether Virginia sues to block harmful federal rollbacks in education, housing, or environmental policy. It affects how forcefully the state protects consumers from predatory corporations or defends the rights of LGBTQ+ Virginians when the federal government won’t. And it determines whether Virginia stands with other states in defending reproductive freedom and access to healthcare, both of which are once again on the chopping block. 

Every administration tests the boundaries of power. But the Trump administration has shown a willingness to cross them, pressuring prosecutors to pursue political enemies and punishing those who refuse. The federal system was designed to withstand such pressure because the founders envisioned strong, independent states with their own legal guardians. In Virginia, that guardian is the Attorney General. 

So when voters head to the polls over the next few weeks, they’ll be choosing more than a lawyer for the state. They’ll be choosing whether Virginia remains a state that upholds the Constitution or one that looks the other way when it’s violated. 

This is why I’m not getting distracted by the noise. I know Jay Jones will represent the best interests of the Commonwealth and protect the things my constituents in Falls Church care about the most. 

The True State of Virginia's Economy

There’s a debate playing out in Virginia right now about the true state of our economy. If you believe Governor Glenn Youngkin, everything is fine: Virginia is outperforming national averages in the job market, our revenue collections are above projections, and the Commonwealth’s financial picture is solid. But if you believe the signs that economists, analysts, and even bipartisan legislators are pointing to, we’re in for a heap of trouble.

 

The truth is both perspectives can be true. And that’s the real challenge when you’re cruising at 70 miles an hour down the interstate, everything can look smooth until you spot a bright sign flashing: “Accident Ahead.” Most of us, faced with that warning, take our foot off the gas, check the GPS, and prepare for what’s coming. The question is whether we’ll do that as a Commonwealth or whether we’ll plow forward at full speed, insisting the road is clear until it’s too late.

 

Final Report | Emergency Committee on Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions

 

Last week, the Emergency Committee on Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions held its final meeting and issued a sobering report. After months of testimony, data collection, and economic analysis, the conclusion was clear: Virginia is on a collision course if Congress continues cutting federal spending at this pace.

 

Nearly a quarter of our Virginia’s economy is tied to federal spending, more than any other state. When Washington makes deep cuts, Virginia feels the pain first and worst. We’ve already lost more than 11,000 federal jobs, with another 10,000 at risk. These statistics represent families who’ve lost paychecks, small businesses who’ve lost customers, and local governments who’ve lost tax revenue for schools and public safety.

 

The threats go well beyond the workforce. The President signed H.R. 1, allowing federal premium tax credits to expire at the end of 2025, spiking health insurance costs for more than 200,000 Virginia families with many seeing premiums more than double. Replacing those credits would cost the state $250 million annually, money that could otherwise fund schools, infrastructure, or job creation.

 

Food assistance is another area where families will pay more for less. H.R.1 adds $90 million in costs to Virginia in 2027 and $270 million in 2028 just to keep SNAP running. At the same time, it layers on red tape and blocks benefit increases, even as grocery bills climb higher.

 

Hospitals are bracing for a $2.1 billion annual loss in federal funding once these cuts take hold. That is enough to push many community and rural hospitals already operating on razor-thin margins to close their doors. Losing a hospital doesn’t just mean losing access to doctors and nurses. It means longer drives in an emergency and reduced healthcare access for entire regions of the Commonwealth.

 

Education is under the knife too. The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has proposed the deepest cuts in decades, slashing overall federal support for K–12 schools by 27% and Title I by 34%. On top of that, they would claw back $2.6 billion that schools already planned to use. These cuts eliminate programs for English learners, adult education, migrant and homeless students, and teacher training.

 

And it’s not just abstract future obligations, but critical current projects. Portsmouth saw $24.2 million for dam repairs evaporate. Richmond lost $12 million for water treatment upgrades. Hampton lost $20 million for climate resilience. Norfolk lost nearly $40 million for an offshore wind logistics park. These weren’t “nice to have” projects. They were urgent, job-creating investments. And now they’re gone.

 

The Governor would have you believe our current surplus protects us. But that “cushion” is temporary and these costs are ongoing. You can’t build long-term stability on short-term dollars. That’s why the Committee called for transparency from the Youngkin Administration and real-time data so Virginians can see the risks clearly. We also recommended practical protections for workers blindsided by layoffs: the right to break leases they can’t afford, eviction prevention, extended unemployment benefits, and retraining programs. These are common-sense ways to soften the blow when federal cuts land hardest here at home.

 

As his term winds down, the Governor may prefer to look away. But Virginians don’t have that luxury. The warning signs are flashing. Our choice is simple: do we slow down, take stock, and adjust course or do we press the accelerator and hope the road really is as clear as it looks right now?

 

Virginia has always thrived when we planned ahead, diversified our economy, and invested in our people. That’s the road to long-term prosperity. Pretending there’s no accident ahead is not leadership. It’s denial. And Virginians deserve better than that.