Tysons Casino Bill May Still Be Alive In VA Legislature: Lawmakers

TYSONS, VA — A day after the Virginia Senate Recourses Subcommittee voted 4-0 to hold over for the next legislative session a bill that could lead to a casino to being built in Tysons, two lawmakers emailed constituents stressing the proposal was not completely dead this session.

"The subcommittee recommended that the bill re-emerge during the 2025 General Assembly Session," Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38th) wrote in her email. "Although the bill was voted to move to next year, the full Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee will review the subcommittee’s determination. The full committee traditionally honors the recommendation of the subcommittee; however, it is not required to accept that recommendation.

The finance committee meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. during session, so the soonest a vote could take place is next Tuesday. However, both houses of the legislature have a Feb. 13 deadline to finish work on the bills they will be sending to the other house, so vote might not take place until the day of the deadline.

"While the recommendation still needs to be approved by the full committee, and the bill may come back in future sessions, this development underscores the importance of my constituent’s concerns," Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim said (D-37th), in his email. "I remain committed to advocating for the best interests of our community, and I will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard."

While historically it would be unusual for a full committee vote to overrule a subcommittee recommendation, SB 675 would not be officially dead for this year until the full finance committee votes to approve the recommendation of the subcommittee, a spokesman for Saddam's office told Patch on Friday.

Boysko (D-38th) told Patch she spoke to several senators who were at Thursday's hearing.

"They were shocked by the testimony from the people who represent the community showing their opposition, and because of that, they were changing their votes to 'No,'" she said, in a phone interview on Friday. "I've heard that from other members on both sides of the aisle."

Boysko, along with Dels. Rip Sullivan (D-6th), and Karen Keys-Gamarra (D-7th) and Irene Shin (D-8th), as well as Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville), are holding a Casino Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 3, to hear public concerns and comments pertaining to SB 165 . The town hall will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at McLean High School, 1633 Davidson Road, McLean, VA 22101. Public RSVP: Casino Town Hall.

Related:

• Tysons Casino Bill On Hold After Subcommittee Vote; Opponents React
  
• Tysons Casino Proposal Delayed A Year In General Assembly
• Casino Bill: Town Hall + $416K Donated + New Lobbyist + Hogs & Cowboys
• Casino Opponents Travel To Richmond To Lobby Lawmakers: Report

Read all of Patch's reporting on Comstock Companies' plan to build a casino on Metro's Silver Line in Fairfax County at Silver Line Casino.