Delegate Matt Fariss

As I am settling back into the district, it is the time of year for meetings with businesses and community groups to discuss the 2016 General Assembly Session and give an update on the work that was done.  

On Tuesday I attended the Pancakes and Politics breakfast presented by Liberty University School of Law and its Helms School of Government in conjunction with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. This event gave the Lynchburg area legislators a chance to update the chamber on the 2016 session. Along with Senator Steve Newman, Delegate Ben Cline, and Delegate Scott Garrett, we detailed our work on jobs and the economy, education, and important legislation we each carried this session. A main focus was the 2016-2018 state budget and how we helped to maintain a fiscally conservative budget for the next 2 years.  

 On Friday, I was able to meet with the Mayor of Pamplin, William Horton, and town council members along with the Virginia Health Department members to work on the utility issue afflicting the town and its citizens. Unfortunately, the issue was not resolved on Friday but I look forward to helping the town find a solution quickly.

 My office was also able to attend the annual luncheon for the Campbell County Retired Seniors Volunteer Program on Friday. The Campbell County branch has over 250 volunteers who served over 28,000 hours in 2015. These patrons volunteer at libraries, local food banks, churches, hospitals and more. Some even being recognized for serving 25 years or more with the program. It was a pleasure to be able to recognize and thank each of these constituents who donate their time to the betterment of our community.

Now is the season of expected vetoes from the Governor. Thursday the governor rejected two gun bills. House Bill 1096 would have, in essence, overturned McAuliffe’s executive order last year that no guns would be allowed in state buildings controlled by the executive branch other than the Capitol Building and the General Assembly Building. House Bill 382 prohibited most state agencies - though not the Department of Corrections, Virginia Port Authority or college campuses - from telling employees they can't keep a gun in a locked car in the work parking lot without approval from the General Assembly.

To keep track and to see a full listing of all legislation and the actions taken on each individual bill, please visit: www.lis.virginia.gov. The General Assembly will reconvene on April 20^th to consider the Governor’s vetoes.

If you have any concerns, questions, comments or issues that I or my Aide, Jenna, can help you with, please contact us at (434)821-5929 or email at [email protected]. Also, if you would like me to meet with your business or group to update you on any matters of the 2016 session, please call my office and we would be glad to do so.  

Thank You!