Members of the No Fairfax Coalition traveled multiple times to Richmond, a two-and-a-half-hour trip each way, to inform legislators of their position and why.
The controversial Virginia Senate Bill 982, the so-called Fairfax Casino Bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, died late Wednesday afternoon after House leadership moved it between House committees for consideration. The Virginia House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Resources agreed to "Pass the Bill By for the Day."
Surovell introduced Senate Bill 982, with the bill passing 24-16 in the Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 4. “When I read the paper about how much money Maryland was going to suck out of our commonwealth to pay for their schools — in both Maryland and [Prince George’s] County, I thought it was offensive, and I thought that we need to do something,” Surovell said. Maryland is home to MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino, directly across the Potomac River from Alexandria.
If Virginia SB982 had passed the House and won Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s approval, it would have allowed Fairfax County to hold a local referendum for voters to decide whether Fairfax County would be added to the list as the fifth eligible host locality as described in part in Article 2. §58.1-4101 E.: "limited to a proposed site for a casino gaming establishment in Tysons located within one-quarter of a mile of an existing station on the Metro Silver Line, part of a coordinated mixed-use project development consisting of no less than 1.5 million square feet, within two miles of a regional enclosed mall containing not less than 1.5 million square feet of gross building area, and outside of the Interstate 495 Beltway."
"Oh, what a happy day leading up to Valentine's," posted Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) at 5:19 p.m. on Feb. 12. "SB982, the Casino Bill, has died in a House Appropriations Subcommittee."
Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill), serving on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and passionate opponent of SB982, posted on X at 6:54 p.m., "What a wonderful gift, and thanks for your show of love this afternoon speaking out against the casino!"
The Great Falls Citizens Association released its newsletter, titled "House Subcommittee Action Halts Progress of Tysons Casino Bill.' at 6 p.m. According to the GFCA, the Chairman, David Bulova, commented, "Today's meeting was the subcommittee's last meeting of the session." "Therefore, the casino bill may be left in committee."
GFCA thanked Fairfax County Board Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville) for his strong opposition to the bill and added that its Special Committee on Legislative Action and the Land Use & Zoning Committee will continue to monitor the casino issue and any new initiatives that may develop.
Lynne Mulston, spokesperson for the No Fairfax Casino Coalition, expressed her gratitude to all the elected officials who opposed the bill in the GFCA newsletter. "We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Jennifer Boysko, whose bold, decisive leadership led the opposition to this casino bill. Of significance, we acknowledge the thousands of Fairfax County residents who signed petitions opposing the bill, wrote members of the General Assembly, donated to the fight, planted yard signs, attended our rallies, and traveled numerous times to Richmond in order to voice opposition,” Mulston said.
Mulston added that SB982 followed the failed effort by Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke). "So, it is likely to resurrect itself in another piece of legislation in the future."
During the 2024 General Assembly session, a Virginia Senate subcommittee voted to “continue” Marsden’s Senate Bill 675, so a more in-depth analysis of the potential casino could be conducted. In January 2023, Marsden introduced Senate Bill 1543, which would have amended state law to allow a casino to be built in any locality with a population of more than 1 million and operating under an urban county executive form of government. Marsden’s bill was withdrawn before the vote.
"We're going to keep talking about it," Surovell said after Wednesday's vote.