2025 Legislative Programproposed
Status set at the School Board Regular Meeting on Dec 2, 2024
The City of Fairfax's 2025 Legislative Program is an annual process by which the City Council and School Board establish their policy priorities and position requests for the Virginia General Assembly session.
The process began with a City Council work session on September 10, 2024, during which Assistant City Manager Melanie Zipp reviewed how the legislative program is built, highlighted notable 2024 General Assembly actions (including bills on AI, the fentanyl crisis, FOIA, towing regulations, door-to-door vendors, and vacancy appointment processes), and presented a list of potential 2025 position request topics for Council to consider. Planning-related items — notably local authority over accessory dwelling units — were among the items flagged for inclusion. A public hearing on the City's 2025 Legislative Program was held on November 12, 2024, and Council was asked to provide consensus on new policy statements and language revisions.
A work session with the City's legislative delegation was scheduled for December 3, 2024, followed by a Council vote on December 10, 2024, at which the program was included on the consent agenda (items 7A–H) and approved.
Separately, the School Board reviewed the draft 2025 Legislative Program — presented by Ms. Sarah Kelsey — at its November 18, 2024 work session and voted unanimously to approve it at its December 2, 2024 regular meeting.
What members have said
- Melanie Zipp (Assistant City Manager)
Zipp led staff presentations on the 2025 Legislative Program at the September 10 and November 12 City Council meetings. On November 12, she outlined the remaining timeline: Council consensus on policy statements that evening, delegation work session on December 3, Council consideration on December 10, and the General Assembly session beginning January 8.
Kelsey presented the draft 2025 Legislative Program to the School Board at its November 18 work session and moved its approval at the December 2 regular meeting, where it passed unanimously.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Sep 10, 2024 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Sep 10, 2024City Council · item 13bWork Session – 2024 Virginia General Assembly Actions and City's 2025 Legislative Program
Council held a preliminary discussion on the City's 2025 Legislative Program and reviewed highlights of 2024 Virginia General Assembly actions; no formal action was taken.
- Legislative Review
[1.04] The draft 2025 Legislative Program was presented and discussed; the Board is scheduled to vote on it at the December regular school board meeting.
- Approval of the 2025 Legislative Program
[4.03] Approval of the 2025 Legislative Program was scheduled for a Board vote at this meeting.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.