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Fairfax County residents sent nearly 20 state lawmakers to Richmond with an ambitious list of demands Saturday, pressing them to confront rising living costs, housing instability and gaps in essential services during Virginia’s 2026 legislative session.

Nearly 100 constituents gathered at the Fairfax County Government Center on Jan. 10, where speakers had three minutes each to address issues including education, child care, behavioral health, workers’ rights, data centers and economic development.

The county’s all-Democratic delegation heard the appeals ahead of the 60-day General Assembly session beginning Jan. 14. Del. Vivian Watts, who chaired the hearing, called the annual event “one of the highlights of the year” for legislators.

David Broder, executive director of the Virginia State Council of SEIU, said federal policies and economic pressures have made conditions especially difficult for workers.

“Something feels a little different this year — the challenges feel harder,” Broder said.

He urged lawmakers to expand collective-bargaining rights for public employees, increase the minimum wage and establish broader paid family and medical leave.

“Use your power,” Broder said. “Let’s seize the moment.”

Housing and family services take center stage

Michelle Jefferson, chair of the Fairfax County Community Action Advisory Board, requested more support for education, child care and food security. But she said housing should be lawmakers’ first priority in 2026.

High local housing costs are forcing families to make “impossible choices,” Jefferson said. She argued that stronger assistance programs would benefit both residents and the broader economy.

“When families are stable, Virginia’s economy is strong,” she said.

Fourth-grade sisters Victoria and Olivia Wyche drew enthusiastic applause with separate appeals for youth programs.

Victoria asked lawmakers to preserve free after-school programming in middle schools. Fairfax County officials have discussed charging families fees after avoiding proposed cuts to the programs.

“These programs are crucial for many students who lack alternatives,” she said.

Olivia advocated for continued early-education services such as Head Start, saying those programs gave her a safe environment while strengthening her academic and social skills.

“My sister and I serve as living proof of their effectiveness,” she said. Both sisters said they were reading at a high-school level.

Residents flag casinos, data centers and care shortages

A small group of residents opposed efforts to bring a casino to Tysons. The turnout appeared lighter than in some previous years after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a firmer stance against the possibility.

Larry Zaragoza raised concerns about placing data centers near residential communities.

“We don’t need to necessarily put them next to people,” Zaragoza said, arguing that inadequate planning has caused problems for residents.

Many speakers sought greater funding for social services, particularly programs serving people with developmental disabilities.

Carol Skelly called for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates to support people receiving institutional care. She said service providers face serious difficulties because workers are paid too little.

Nicole Zupan said persistent turnover among group-home employees disrupts families and residents who need stable relationships with trusted caregivers.

Kasey McNamara, the Providence District representative on the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, requested reliable funding for behavioral-health programs. She also warned that Northern Virginia remains critically short of crisis beds.

“I know first-hand what a difference they make,” McNamara said of the services.

Teachers and aviation employers seek state action

Abigail Quinn, a Fairfax County Public Schools teacher and University of Virginia graduate, asked lawmakers to examine governance at the university. She criticized the departure of UVA’s president in 2025 following pressure from the Trump administration and stressed the importance of academic independence.

Quinn also called for strategic investments in K-12 schools that would help educators work more effectively.

“We might be good at our jobs, but we aren’t miracle workers,” she said.

Elizabeth Lower-Basch similarly urged Virginia officials to “be ready and be prepared” for future actions by the Trump administration.

Patrick Hampel of Lionheart Aviation Services asked the state to strengthen career pipelines for Virginia’s aviation and aerospace industries. He warned that other states are recruiting workers and encouraging companies to relocate.

“These high-paying jobs should belong to Virginia students,” Hampel said.

He praised Superintendent Michelle Reid, Rep. James Walkinshaw and Braddock District Supervisor Rachna Sizemore-Heizer for supporting an aviation career track. Without statewide action, however, he said Virginia could “watch the next generation of aerospace jobs flee.”

The General Assembly session is scheduled to last 60 days, although work on Virginia’s two-year budget could extend it.

Democrats enter the session with a narrow Senate majority and a larger advantage in the House of Delegates following the Nov. 4, 2025, election. With Democrat Abigail Spanberger elected governor, legislation vetoed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin after passing the General Assembly in 2025 may now have a much clearer route into law.