Emily Leayman | ARLnow

Faith in Housing bill crosses finish line, clears path for church-based affordable housing

Published April 30, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated April 30, 2026 at 3:07PM

Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston on April 30, 2026 (staff photo)

The “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement is celebrating after the Faith in Housing bill, supporting expedited church-based affordable housing development, has been signed into law.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388 and Del. Joshua Cole (D-65)’s HB 1279, which will eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and will sunset on Jan. 1, 2031 unless reenacted by a future General Assembly.

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GOP bill to return Arlington, Alexandria to D.C. condemned as ‘unconstitutional’ by Rep. Beyer

By Emily Leayman

Published April 24, 2026 at 8:30AM

A view of D.C. from Rosslyn (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A Republican legislator’s proposal to make Arlington and Alexandria part of D.C. has earned immediate condemnation from the region’s congressional representation.

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) introduced the “Make DC Square Again Act” yesterday (Wednesday) in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress. McCormick’s legislation seeks to reunite Arlington, Alexandria and the District, which had been the case for 46 years in the 19th century.

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Spanberger proposes final edits to immigration enforcement bill from Del. Lopez

By Emily Leayman

Published April 15, 2026 at 10:00AM

Del. Alfonso Lopez 2025 campaign kickoff (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A bill from Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) seeking to limit law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration enforcement has received minor adjustments from Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Lopez’s HB 1441, and companion bill SB 783, ban state and local law enforcement agreements with federal immigration enforcement and limit when state and local law enforcement can cooperate.

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Governor signs Arlington legislators’ bills on elections, eviction prevention, tourism districts

By Emily Leayman

Published April 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

Dels. Alfonso Lopez, Patrick Hope and Adele McClure (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Numerous pieces of legislation from Arlington lawmakers are officially set to become law following final approval from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

Among the approximately 1,200 bills passed out of the 2026 session, legislation on elections, eviction prevention, tourism improvement districts and the minimum wage all came by way of state senators and delegates representing Arlington. Most signed bills will take effect on July 1, 2026, unless otherwise specified.

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AG Jones vows to fight ‘illegal and malicious’ executive order on mail voting

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published April 2, 2026 at 10:00AM

A voting dropbox in Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia’s attorney general plans to challenge an executive order by President Donald Trump that would add more restrictions and federal oversight to mail voting.

Attorney General Jay Jones (D) has indicated plans to join top elections officials in states like Oregon and Arizona, who pledged to mount legal opposition to the executive order within minutes of Trump signing it — arguing that the president was illegally encroaching on the right of states to run elections.

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Voting rights advocates hail Virginia’s return to multistate voter roll system

By Emily Leayman

Published March 27, 2026 at 9:15AM

Election Day in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Prominent voting rights advocates are applauding a new executive order returning Virginia to a multistate voter roll program and limiting when voters can be removed from the rolls before elections.

An executive order signed earlier this week by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) reverses Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R)’s 2023 decision to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan organization that shares voter registration and identification data between 26 member states.

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Package of YIMBY housing bills may widen options for redevelopment in Arlington

By Emily Leayman

Published March 25, 2026 at 3:45PM

An overhead view of Clarendon and the Metro station entrance (staff photo)

A variety of new pathways for redevelopment projects in Arlington and around Virginia are poised to open up following the passage of numerous housing-related bills.

On the way to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) are bills that would allow localities to make an administrative approval process for affordable housing and eliminate rezoning requirements for churches that develop affordable housing on their properties.

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A $25 minimum wage in D.C. could shift business to N. Va., restaurant association says

By Emily Leayman

Published March 24, 2026 at 11:45AM

Outdoor seating at Padaek restaurant (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A $25 minimum wage proposal in D.C. could push some restaurant workers into Northern Virginia in the short term and, in the long term, potentially drive businesses to relocate as well, the head of the region’s restaurant association says.

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington — an outspoken opponent of D.C.’s Initiative 82, which sought to phase out the tip credit for tipped workers — is opposing One Fair Wage’s proposal to raise the District’s minimum wage to $25 per hour by July 2029.

Around Town

Director-actor duo to release new children’s book after moving to Arlington

By Emily Leayman

Published March 13, 2026 at 3:45PM

Brittany and Arjay Smith (courtesy of District Images)

A husband-and-wife duo known for their work on the silver screen plan to release their second children’s book together after resettling in Arlington.

Brittany Scott Smith, an Emmy-winning director who has worked on “Sesame Street,” and her husband, actor Arjay Smith, release books together under the name “A.B. Smith.” Their latest book, “Wes and Morris Meet Passport Pat,” comes out on March 27.

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Assault weapons ban and other gun control bills head to Gov. Spanberger

By Emily Leayman

Published March 13, 2026 at 9:15AM

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

Legislation to ban the sale of assault-style weapons is among a raft of gun control bills heading to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) as the Virginia General Assembly session ends tomorrow (Saturday).

Many of the firearm-related bills advanced by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly aren’t new, but faced vetoes from former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). They’re expected to fare differently under Spanberger, who has indicated support for legislation such as ghost gun bans, more restrictions on gun access for people convicted of domestic violence crimes, and strengthened red flag laws.

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What a possible $25 D.C. minimum wage could mean for the region’s restaurant industry

By Emily Leayman

Published March 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

The dining room of Locket in Rosslyn (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A ballot measure to substantially increase D.C.’s minimum wage would undoubtedly have major effects on Arlington’s neighbor, but the region-wide impacts are murkier.

One Fair Wage’s proposal to raise the District’s minimum wage to $25 per hour by July 2029 has earned support from labor advocates seeking to make D.C. more affordable for the working class, but criticism from business owners worried about going out of business or having to lay off employees.

Around Town

Another APS graduate will appear on ‘Jeopardy!’ this week

By Emily Leayman

Published March 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Arlington's Lydia Cawley with "Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings (via Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

For a second consecutive week, an Arlington Public Schools alum will be making an appearance on “Jeopardy!”

Lydia Cawley, a 2016 graduate of Washington-Lee High School (now Washington-Liberty High School), will be one of three contestants competing on the trivia show on Thursday night.