The Clock Is Already Running
We're sharing this now because the timeline for making our voice heard is short and moving fast.
- The 2027 General Assembly session is a “short session” — just 30 days — and opens on Wednesday, January 13, 2027. Short sessions move quickly, with little time to slow down or reconsider bills once they're introduced.
- Before that, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Legislative Committee develops the County's own state Legislative Program and is responsible for monitoring bills once the session begins.
- The Board holds a work session with our General Assembly delegation on October 6, 2026, and a final draft of the County's 2027 legislative package is expected to be released publicly on October 8, 2026.
- A public hearing on the County's proposed 2027 legislative package is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
That means CFGF has only a few weeks to weigh in and shape our own position before the County's plan is finalized and the delegation heads to Richmond. Your input now will directly inform what CFGF submits.
Keeping Land-Use Decisions Local
Zoning, development density, and where major facilities get built are inherently local questions. No one in Richmond understands Great Falls' roads, schools, and water systems better than our own Board of Supervisors and the residents who live here. CFGF will oppose any legislation that strips that local authority away, no matter how the bill is packaged or what benefits it promises.
No Casino in Fairfax County — Full Stop
You may recall the fight last year over legislation that would have opened the door to a casino in Tysons. Governor Spanberger vetoed that bill in April, but its chief sponsor has said publicly he intends to bring it back in 2027.
CFGF's position is simple: we oppose any casino in the Tysons/Fairfax County area — period. This isn't about getting a better cut of the tax revenue. It's about who gets to decide. Allowing Richmond to override our Board of Supervisors on where a casino goes sets a precedent that could just as easily be used for housing density or other major development decisions we don't agree with. We're asking our delegation to reject any version of this bill in 2027, regardless of the sweeteners attached to it.
Getting Serious About Data Centers
Data center development is expanding rapidly across Fairfax County, and many of these facilities can currently be approved with little to no public review. That needs to change.
CFGF is calling for:
- An end to “by-right” approval — every data center project should require a public hearing and a vote by the Board of Supervisors, not an automatic sign-off.
- Real buffers between data centers and residential neighborhoods, with enforceable noise limits — not self-reported compliance.
- Independent review of how these facilities affect our water supply, streams, and the power grid — with developers, not ratepayers, covering the cost of grid upgrades.
- Limits on diesel backup generator pollution and noise, with clear disclosure to neighbors.
- Bonds to guarantee that abandoned or obsolete facilities get properly decommissioned, not left to decay next to someone's backyard.
These facilities bring real environmental and quality-of-life impacts. Great Falls should never have one sited near a residential district without full public input and enforceable protections in place first.
Transparency That Means More Public Input, Not Less
Some proposed changes to Virginia's open government law (FOIA) are being framed as ways to reduce paperwork for local government. CFGF supports genuine efficiency, but not at the cost of the public's ability to see what government is doing. We oppose changes that would weaken notice requirements or make it harder for residents to track development commitments and decisions that affect them.
We're also recommending something more constructive: many of Virginia's disclosure rules and exemptions are scattered across the legal code in ways that make them hard for ordinary citizens to find. CFGF supports directing the Virginia FOIA Council to build a clear, indexed guide connecting all of these related rules — making the law easier to understand and enforce, without weakening anyone's rights.
Local Control Over Local Roads
Right now, VDOT can override Fairfax County's own decisions on speed limits, crosswalks, and traffic calming in our neighborhoods. CFGF believes the County — not a state agency — should have the final say on these safety measures.
- Fairfax County supports giving localities authority to implement locally funded, evidence-based safety improvements on state-maintained roads.
- CFGF agrees, and would go further: VDOT should enforce statewide engineering standards, not hold an open-ended veto over safety measures the County has already studied and funded.
- This isn't hypothetical: in 2023, the Loudoun County towns of Middleburg and Hillsboro each studied their roads and requested VDOT approval to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph. Both were denied — part of a statewide pattern in which VDOT has rejected most local speed-reduction requests since the General Assembly granted this authority in 2021.
Stronger Local Rules for Stormwater
As development continues, particularly large projects with significant paved surfaces like data centers, stormwater management becomes critical to protecting our streams and homes from flooding. CFGF supports giving Fairfax County the authority to set stricter stormwater standards than the state minimum, tailored to our community's specific terrain and drainage needs.
Our 2027 Priorities, at a Glance
- Oppose any Fairfax County/Tysons casino bill, regardless of revenue-sharing terms.
- End by-right approval of data centers; require public review, buffers, and environmental safeguards.
- Eliminate VDOT's veto power over local traffic safety decisions.
- Expand local authority over stormwater management standards.
- Oppose FOIA changes that reduce public engagement.
- Support a clearer, better-organized guide to Virginia's public records law.
What You Can Do
Your voice matters most when it reaches the people making these decisions. In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing specific ways to get involved, including:
- Contacting our Fairfax County General Assembly delegation directly to share your views.
- Monitoring Board of Supervisors legislative committee meetings as the County finalizes its 2027 program.
- Watching for CFGF Legislative Watch alerts once the General Assembly session begins, so you know exactly when and how to act.
We also want to hear from you — and time is short. This is a draft plan, and it will be stronger with your input. If you see an issue we haven't addressed, a way to sharpen one of the positions above, or a concern specific to your part of Great Falls, please share it with us as soon as possible, and no later than Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Member feedback by that date allows CFGF to finalize and formally submit our position to our state delegation and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors ahead of the Board's October 6 work session and October 13 public hearing. Send your feedback, questions, or suggestions to CitizensForGreatFalls@Gmail.com.
CFGF has always been strongest when our members speak up. Thank you for your continued support and for helping make sure Great Falls has a real seat at the table in 2027.