August is a typically quiet month for lobbyists and government affairs professionals when legislative bodies at all levels (local, state, federal) take a break from the action to go on a vacation, spend time back home with their families, kick off general election campaigns or focus on working in their “real” jobs in the case of part-time legislators.

A look at economic development, planning, zoning, and residential and commercial projects happening in Northern Virginia.

In this installment of the Advocacy Report, we are debriefing about NVAR Government Affairs staff attending the NAR Government Affairs Directors’ (GAD) Institute July 18-20 in Detroit, Michigan. We will also recap NVAR Staff joining Board President Heather Embrey and President-Elect Thai-Hung Nguyen for an exclusive opportunity to meet with several influential elected leaders at a recent event held in McLean. Finally, we will discuss how NVAR Staff and Realtors® helped lead an Arlington County Community Workshop on the Role of Local Government in Homeownership.

February 7, 2023 was Crossover Day in the Virginia General Assembly. This annual day of celebration for some, and sadness for others, marks a sort of halftime in the Virginia legislature.

Each year we block numerous policy proposals that would harm the industry. Most of these bills are not ill-intentioned or targeted at harming Realtors®, but they do present a threat to the industry through over-reaching regulations or unintended consequences.