Delegate Matt Fariss

The first full week of session has come to a close, and I am optimistic about the progress of the 2015 Legislative Agenda. There are a number of key bills and initiatives that will have a great impact on the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

I have decided to sign on to two bills that I believe are particularly important to the Commonwealth. Virginia is home to more than 780,000 veterans and there has been a growing need for more veteran care centers in Virginia. I am pleased to report that legislation to fund new care centers in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads advanced from committee this week. These two new 230-bed centers would not only provide valuable services to veterans in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, but they would also allow the existing centers in Richmond and Salem to better meet the need in those regions.

I am happy to announce my first piece of Legislation has reported unanimously from the House of Delegates. This past Friday HB 1544 finished its third required reading on the House Floor and was reported to the Senate. This bill amends the Virginia Code to expand the variety of lighting used on emergency vehicles. Modern Technology has brought changes and the code needed to be updated to allow the implementation of new technology. I look forward to its engrossment by the Governor after it passes through the Senate.

This week was a busy week with visitors. The Martin Luther King Holiday brought a number of visitors from the district. I would like to thank every constituent that came to visit me this past week. It was great seeing Logan Richardson, Christian Raymond, Charles Stachowiak, Anthony Tronco, David Sutton, Roger Tweedy, Allen Ross, Wilbert Dean, Jesse Davis, Charles Leftwich, Carolyn Thompson, Dianne Shisler, and James Booker. It was great to hear about the concerns of the VCDL, ABATE, The Buckingham American Legion Post 134.

 Additional information any bills in the presented in the commonwealth, can be found at lis.virginia.gov. This website is a great resource to the public, and allows for Citizens to easily track and navigate a legislative session. Please contact my office for any help or tips in using this website. 

 If you have any concerns, questions, comments or issues that I or my Aide, Eric, can help you with, please contact us at 804-698-1059 or email at [email protected]