Falls Church staff brief council on 2025 General Assembly session; dozens of state code changes flagged for local action

City staff provided a post‑session briefing on May 27 on the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session and the state actions that will affect Falls Church operations and codes.

Overview: Alex Lee, the city’s legislative analyst, told council staff tracked about 230 bills of particular interest to the city; roughly 80 of those passed and were signed by the governor, and the remainder failed or were vetoed. Staff described several enacted measures that either increase local authority or impose mandated state‑code changes requiring local implementation.

Notable outcomes and local implications: Staff highlighted an enacted bill the city had sought that expands local authority for an affordable dwelling unit (ADU) program; staff said House Bill 2137 (2025) was signed and allows the city to adopt an ADU program under state code language referenced by staff. Staff also called out other enacted changes that will require local attention:

• Subdivision and site‑plan approval: State code changes now allow approval by a designated agent rather than automatically by planning commissions. Staff recommended the planning director be designated and said an ordinance to implement that change will come to the June 2 work session.

• Stormwater grant language and local match: Staff reported the city’s request to clarify a state budget item about stormwater grant allocations was ultimately implemented administratively and that the Department of Environmental Quality and Senate Finance worked outside the budget process to resolve the issue.

• Tenants’ notice: House Bill 1867 was signed; among other provisions, it requires a 60‑day notice for landlords that do not intend to renew a lease for landlords who own more than four rental units, a change staff noted has limited applicability to smaller local landlords.

• Other bills flagged for local implementation: Staff identified around 33 enacted bills that amend state codes and will affect local policy or city code implementation; these include changes touching eminent domain procedures, real‑estate tax exemption calculations for surviving spouses of fallen service members, and tree canopy funding options for developers who cannot meet on‑site canopy requirements.

Staff process and next steps: The city‑wide tracking log prepared by staff will be used by department leaders to identify what code changes, implementation steps or work‑plan adjustments are required. Staff said they have already provided the tracking log to department heads and will bring recommendations — including any ordinance drafts — to council (the subdivision/site‑plan agent designation is slated for the June 2 work session).

Council reaction and priorities for 2026: Council members pressed staff to continue advocating for local authority on traffic enforcement (stop‑sign and speed enforcement technologies), tenant protections, funding for schools and other local needs, and to coordinate regional messaging ahead of a possible September reconvened session on federal funding matters. Staff also noted that some bills that the city supported (such as stop‑sign video enforcement bills) did not pass this year.

Ending: Staff encouraged council to review the tracking log and provided a copy to councilors. Several council members said they want to convene earlier in the fall to identify priorities for the 2026 session and to coordinate outreach to state legislators and regional partners.