Friends of Matt Fariss
P.O. Box 431
Rustburg, VA 24588
RICHMOND, VA---We have just completed the fifth week and crossover here at the General Assembly. The total 2600 bills and resolutions that were introduced in the House and Senate have now been voted on by their perspective chambers. Here in the House, just over 1700 were introduced and a little over half were passed and now await their fate in the Senate. The same applies to the 551 passed in the Senate, they are now being considered by the House. Of all the total pieces of legislation introduced 750 have failed and 262 have been carried over or will be considered in the 2013 Session.
Early this week, one of those bills passed in the House and now being heard by Senate committee was House Bill 576. This bill is an overhaul of the public school teacher and principal contract and evaluation process and will basically phase out the tenure like system in favor of term contracts. This legislation will require teacher and principal evaluations be consistent with objectives in the Board of Education’s Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria, and they will be trained on the evaluation process; therefore, it is believed the process will help improve and ensure fairness and objectivity. The patron of the bill believed teachers deserved an opportunity to receive professional feedback annually and be allowed to build their knowledge in areas identified in that annual review. This legislation is ultimately about recognizing and celebrating the great teachers we have here in the Commonwealth.
One bill which was killed in the House and will not have the opportunity to be considered by the Senate is House Bill 512. This legislation would have classified machinery and tools as intangible property during the first three years they are used by a business. The result would have been that such property no longer could be subjected to property taxes in the localities and only the state could have taxed it. This would have eliminated a critical revenue source for many of our local towns in the 59th District. Our towns depend on these funds for their operating budgets to provide for numerous local services.
One bill causing much controversy that has been tabled for this year is the legislation allowing for “Sunday hunting”. Our office received hundreds of calls, emails and visits from interested parties on both sides of the issue. In our mail in and in our on-line surveys, 79% were against Sunday hunting and 21% in favor. We found the calls and emails to reflect these same percentages.
I will be in Richmond until March 10th, if you have concerns or questions about legislation being considered please feel free to contact me. I can be reached directly by calling (804) 698-1059 or writing me at P. O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218 and also by email at delmfariss_house.virginia.gov. The General Assembly also has a website http://legis.virginia.gov for detailed information regarding bills and other general information.
RICHMOND, VA---We just completed the fourth week and are half way through the 2012 General Assembly Session. With only 4 more weeks left in session we have been busy with the task of making sure all 1300 bills are given a fair hearing before they crossover to the Senate on February 14th. As of this date just over 400 of those House bills have been passed, 80 have been continued to next session and 120 have failed.
The Senate has passed about one third of the 684 bills they had to consider. One of those is SB219, which after crossover will go to the House for a vote. Senate Bill 219 will make texting a primary offense, meaning a police officer would be allowed to pull over a motorist solely on the basis of having probable cause that a driver is texting. The law currently reads a motorist can only be issued a citation for texting when pulled over for a separate primary offense.
A bill passed by the Senate which caused much controversy this week and will most likely continue to when it moves over to the House, is SB323. This legislation will lift the ban on the purchase of one gun a month and would bring Virginia in line with most other states. Those in favor argue the old law was no longer necessary due to the updated computerized background check system.
Two more “gun bills” passed this week HB14 and HB48 which are referred to as the “castle doctrine” bills. They will allow homeowners to use deadly force in defense of themselves, their homes and families and protects them from civil liability. These bills are now headed to the Senate for consideration, where legislators have passed a similar measure allowing residents to use deadly force against intruders without fear of being sued.
A very hot topic which brought much heated discussion Thursday in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee meeting was Senate Bill 202. The bill would have banned the practice of fox chasing in an enclosure and made it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to erect or maintain an enclosure for the purpose of pursuing, hunting or killing a fox with dogs. The Senate committee voted 13-2 to carry the bill over for a year while state game officials conduct a one-year study of this little known practice. The House version of this bill had been tabled earlier this session by the House committee.
Another bill which caused much discussion this week and very passionate arguments from all parties involved was HB947, otherwise known as the “Tebow bill”. This legislation was passed and now requires the Virginia High School League, the organization that governs high school athletics in Virginia, to allow home schooled children to participate on high school athletic teams. However, the bill also states the provision of this act shall expire on June 30, 2017.
RICHMOND, VA---We just completed our fourth week of the 2012 General Assembly Session. Standing and sub-committees have been meeting many hours to consider all of the bills brought before them. These decisions must be made in a timely manner so all the bills introduced in both chambers have a chance to be voted on by the entire House or Senate body, prior to crossover on February 14th.
The bills heard and considered this week in the General Assembly were somewhat varied in nature. They ranged in subject matter anywhere from allowing hunting on Sundays to school districts being allowed to start classes before Labor Day. Both the House and the Senate had introduced bills to allow hunters to hunt on Sundays. House Bill 921 was tabled in committee and therefore will not make it to the floor of the House for a vote. However, the Senate did pass SB464 and it now must make it out of these same committees before it can be considered by the full House after crossover.
Another bill the hunters in my district may find of interest is House Bill 940. After substantial debate, this bill, which repeals the one-gun-a-month limit set in place in 1993, was passed with a 66-32 vote. Some argued the old law was outdated and superfluous, given federal laws and instant background checks done now which were not practiced 19 years ago.
This week the so called “Kings Dominion” law was overturned in the House when HB1063 was approved with a 76-26 vote. This bill will give each local school board the flexibility to set its own school calendar. Schools could open no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day and no later than the day after Labor Day.
Another controversial bill facing review this week was HB9 regarding the voter identification requirements. The bill states when a person shows up to vote and does not have proper identification, they would be required to cast a provisional ballot. After much spirited debate, the bill was passed with a 69-30 vote.
I will be here until March 10th, if you have concerns or questions about legislation being considered please feel free to contact me. I can be reached directly by calling (804) 698-1059 or writing me at P. O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218 and also by email at delmfariss_house.virginia.gov. You may obtain more detailed information regarding bills or other general information from the General Assembly website http://legis.virginia.gov.
RICHMOND, VA---This week legislators found themselves hurrying from one committee meeting to another as they listened to testimony from those supporting and those opposing many of the 1300 bills introduced during this long session (60 days) of the 2012 General Assembly. Most bills introduced by the legislators are referred to one of 14 different committees with some of those committees being made up of 3 or more sub-committees depending on their subject matter. Most Delegates and Senators serve on at least two or three committees as well as several subcommittees. My Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resource Committee reviewed several bills this week with a wide range of topics. For example, HB12 would require the operator of a vessel (boat) to immediately report an accident to law enforcement and to notify the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, failure to do so would be a Class 3 misdemeanor. Then in my Natural Resources Subcommittee we heard arguments regarding HB 710 which would provide that any coal remaining and any void left by the removal of coal remain the property of the owner or lessee of the mineral estate.
Another bill and very hot topic in my district is HB921 which would allow any person who has obtained a hunting license to hunt any wild bird or wild animal on Sundays. Our office has received numerous emails and phone calls regarding this matter from both those against and those in favor. I look forward to hearing more information during the debate on Wednesday when it will be heard in my committee.
I will be in Richmond until March 10th, if you have any concerns or questions about pending legislation, please call me at (804) 698-1059, write to me at Post Office Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218. I can also be reached by e-mail at delmfariss_house.virginia.gov. Also please use the General Assembly website http://legis.virginia.gov for detailed information regarding bills and other general information.
RICHMOND, VA--- The second week of the 2012 session of the Virginia General Assembly started as a busy one with hundreds of citizens showing up at the Capitol to lobby for their cause. There were pro-gun and pro-life advocates along with several other special interests groups.
A controversial topic this session and of concern to many hunters and land owners are the bills being considered by both houses to allow hunting on Sunday, which is currently prohibited. This week the Senate Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee considered and combined several of their bills on the matter resulting in Senate Bill 464. On Thursday afternoon, after much debate and discussion the committee passed Senate Bill 464 with a 13 to 4 vote, which means it will now go to the full Senate to be considered. The House is also considering several bills on this same subject, however they have yet to be heard in committee.
Throughout the state for several years there has been much concern and discussion regarding uranium mining in Pittsylvania County. This week Governor Bob McDonnell announced that he wants the General Assembly to maintain the moratorium for another year. He would like to allow time for a new, multiagency work group to conduct a comprehensive, site-specific analysis of the proposed mining site. The governor has directed his secretaries of health and human resources, commerce and trade, and natural resources to establish the working group, which also will be asked to develop a draft legal and regulatory framework covering all aspects of mining and milling uranium before lawmakers make any decision on lifting the moratorium. Members of a legislative subcommittee that authorized the study sent McDonnell a letter on Wednesday asking the administration to delay action until they can obtain more information and develop proposed regulation. McDonnell said in a statement when announcing his decision, As a result of our analysis, and consideration of the points made in the letter, I believe that such an onsite study must take place before any action is taken.
I will be here in Richmond until March 10th and will keep my constituents updated weekly as to the legislation being presented and considered during this General Assembly Session. If you have any concerns or questions about pending legislation, please call me directly at (804) 698-1059, write to me at Post Office Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218 or e-mail me at delmfariss_house.virginia.gov. I have also mailed a survey to my constituents that can be accessed on my website www.mattfariss.com and I look forward to hearing from each of you regarding any concerns you may have. For general information on legislation being introduced you may also access the Virginia General Assembly website at http://legis.virginia.gov/.
RICHMOND, VA--- The 2012 session of the Virginia General Assembly officially convened Wednesday at noon. The first order of business was the swearing in of the 100 members of the House of Delegates. I was truly honored to be among the 16 new members of this historical legislative body and am proud to be representing the best interests of my constituents in the 59th District.
At the close of Session, announcements were made as to the committee appointments decided upon by the Speaker of the House. I was pleased to have been appointed to the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee along with the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee. I believe by serving on both of these committees it will enable me to help my constituents and hopefully to have a positive impact on the issues involving the 59th District. In these committees we will have the opportunity to take a closer look at bill before they are referred to the House floor for an official vote.
On Wednesday evening I attended Governor Bob McDonnells State of the Commonwealth address outlining his plan for the coming year. He spoke in the House Chamber to an audience consisting of members from the House of Delegates, Senate and a full gallery. The governor asked that we all, both Democrat and Republican, work together in making the decisions that will affect all citizens of the Commonwealth. He stated we have shown that while we hail from diverse regions, align with different political parties and subscribe to competing philosophies, we can still come together to make progress on the issues important to our eight million people. He went on to outline an agenda to recruit new businesses, international trade, funding for transportation, education and the states retirement system.
If you hover over the
session it will say In Progress (in blue).
When session has started. Click on that link and you can watch live.
Matt Fariss is a seventh generation native of Campbell County with a desire for future generations to continue to reside in the region. His wife, Crystal, and children, Hunter, Bobby, and Harrison are the reason Matt entered this campaign. He hopes that they can continue to enjoy the same rights and freedoms that he has been blessed with, and, as delegate, he will fight against liberal policies that will put those liberties in jeopardy. Despite his various successes, he is first and foremost a Christian family man committed to serving his family and community.
Matt was blessed to grow up in rural Virginia. However, as a youth he may have taken some of those blessings for granted and was subsequently "fired" by his father around twenty years old. Following that incident, Matt employed the values of hard work that he'd learned since he was a child. He began purchasing cattle and growing his business operation. Through the years, Matt has operated a country store, managed large amounts of real estate, raised cattle, managed farms, and operated numerous businesses. In addition to other projects, he is currently co-owner and Vice President of the Lynchburg Livestock Market, the largest livestock market center in Virginia. Matt has mastered numerous business ventures, and always has multiple projects going on at one time. As delegate, he will apply that business savvy towards serving his constituents in Richmond.
Having never run for or held office before, Matt is ready to take on the new challenge of representing the citizens of the 59th District. Seeking political office is not something that Matt ever planned or envisioned for himself. As a result, Matt has no favors to return in Richmond or in Washington, and his work will be focused solely on serving his constituents. His service comes because he understands that times like these require sacrifices and commitments of those capable of leading. Matt knows that Richmond is in need of a common sense conservative approach, and, as a businessman, he is capable of bringing that much needed attitude to the House of Delegates. Central Virginia needs a man with roots in the district who understands how to create jobs and make common sense decision. As delegate, Matt will never become an ivory tower leader; instead, he will remain committed to being a citizen-legislator fighting for the economy, values, and future of rural Virginia.
Jobs-
As a small businessman, Matt has long been a job producer in the local economy for years. As delegate, he will apply the same common sense principles that he has learned in the private sector. He has firsthand knowledge of how stifling government regulations inhibit job creation. While in Richmond, Matt will work tirelessly to remove government obstacles to economic growth and will strive to ensure that job producers are rewarded and welcomed in our commonwealth.
Abortion-
Matt believes that there is no more sacred right guaranteed to our citizens than the right to life. Beling raised with a mentally challenged uncle, Matt is all the more aware that ALL life is precious. In the House of Delegates, Matt will be a vigorous defender of the unborn. Throughout his time in office, Matt will author, support, and vote for any legislation that will protect life. Recognizing also that the value of life must be first and foremost in our society, Matt also believes that capital punishment is appropriate for those who take life.
Taxes and Spending-
Matt understands that there is nothing that strangles economic development like excessive taxation. He is a firm believer that the commonwealth taxes too heavily and spends too wastefully. As delegate, "he will cut the fat" from Virginia's budget and fight against tax increases. Matt will be an ardent spokesman for Virginia's families and businesses that are over-taxed while also fighting to ensure that tax dollars are spent in the most effective manner.
Marriage-
Matt is firmly opposed to any attempt to undermine traditional marriage through recognition of same sex couples. As delegate, he will oppose any effort on the state or local level to allow for marriage, partnership benefits, or recognition. Matt will work diligently to ensure that what has happened in New York and elsewhere will never happen in Virginia. He will be a constant and staunch ally of traditional marriage and the belief that such unions and recognition should only ever be between one man and one woman.
Second Amendment-
The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed in the Constitution, and Matt, a long time NRA member, will fight to defend that right. Hunting and gun ownership is an important cultural tradition in central Virginia, and Matt will fight to make sure that no government action will infringe upon that right.
Education-
Virginia's greatest natural resource is our children. As delegate, Matt will work to ensure that our education funds go directly to the classroom to teach the youth of our commonwealth. He believes that the best decision makers in the education system are parents and elected local leaders, and he will fight to remove excessive government intrusion where dollars are kept and decisions are made by distant bureaucrats. Matt understands that the communitys ability to educate its children adequately is essential to a communitys prosperity and future. As delegate, Matt will be a strong voice for our children, their education, and the future of Virginia and its communities.
Property Rights-
A crucial element of right to the pursuit of happiness so eloquently espoused by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, is the right to property. Matt understands this fact and there will be no more ardent defender of property rights in the House of Delegates. He understands the challenges and frustrations that come when government attempts to regulate how property owners utilize their property, and he will work to remove power from regulating bureaucracies and return it back to the people and their elected representatives. Matt will fight against legislation that restricts the rights of property owners.
Watkins Abbitt, Jr., Delegate
Matt is honored to have the support of Watkins Abbitt, Jr. who has also agreed to be Matt's Campaign Treasurer. "Watt" has long served this district well, and Matt hopes to be able to continue on the retiring delegate's legacy of service. Fariss declared, "it is humbling to have the Watt's support, and I look forward to having his support through this campaign and beyond. His sterling reputation is well deserved, and I am grateful that he considers me worthy to follow in his footsteps."
Kathy Byron, Delegate
Kathy Byron, Matt's Delegate for several years, played a crucial role in encouraging Matt to run. She and Matt have worked together before on various business and agricultural issues, and Matt is humbled to have her support in his campaign. "I am grateful for Kathy's support, and I hope to work with her as a colleague in Richmond as we fight for the values and economic needs of rural Virginia together."
Terry Gaddy, Sheriff
The popular outgoing Campbell County Sheriff is an ardent supporter of the campaign and declared that Matt is "strong leader in the business community, and possesses the business savvy and common sense that we need to represent our district." Gaddy continued by saying he believed Matt would be a "powerful voice for rural Virginia and the values that make this such a special place. I proudly support Matt Fariss for Delegate for the 59th District." Matt said that Gaddy's "steadfast commitment to the security and welfare of Campbell County will long be remembered by each and every citizen that were kept safe on his watch," however, he is humbled by the Sheriff's support and looks forward to continuing to work with the brave men and women at the Campbell County Sheriff's Office.
Steve Newman, Senator
We are pleased to have received the endorsement of Senator Steve Newman. Matt is honored to have the full support of such an outstanding public servant with strong conservative credentials. Newman cited Fariss' "dedication to his family, his values and his principles" as reasons for support and also believes Matt will "work hard to put Virginians back to work." Newman believes that "Matt will support job creating legislation, vote to hold the line on taxes, and support our social values. He (Matt) understands and supports the sanctity of human life and marriage." Matt is grateful for Senator Newman's support, and he is certainly eager to have the opportunity to work with Senator Newman and others to move our state in the right direction. "I understand how important it is to have
strong conservative counterparts in the Senate, and I am honored to have a friend and ally in Senator Newman," Fariss said.
The new district consists of 5 different counties in the Central Virginia Area. Albemarle, Appomattox, Campbell, Buckingham, and Nelson counties.
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