This Week From Del. Matt Fariss

The General Assembly has concluded its seventh week of the 2022 Session.

The Republican House Majority passed a responsible, forward-looking state spending plan that puts more money back into the pockets of taxpayers while investing in some of the commonwealth’s present and future needs.

Every Virginian is feeling the impacts of inflation, and at the state level, we believe we have an obligation to help where we can. The House budget for 2022-2024 includes $5.3 billion in tax relief measures to do just that. We’re giving individual filers a tax rebate of up to $300 and joint filers a rebate of up to $600. We’re eliminating the state grocery tax. We’re suspending gas tax hikes. And we’re doubling the standard income tax deduction.

Meanwhile, we’re making major investments in the future of the Commonwealth. With $17 billion in education spending, this is the biggest K-12 budget in Virginia history. It gives teachers a well-deserved pay-raise at four percent per year in the biennium, along with a 1 percent bonus each year. It also helps localities make major improvements to aging and crumbling schools by setting aside $2 billion for school construction grants. We’re also giving students new opportunities to learn by setting aside $150 million to develop laboratory schools with our colleges and universities, and we’re funding the Virginia literacy act.

It’s sometimes said that our state spending plan is a “moral document” – that it signifies where our priorities are as a people. If that’s true, we’re sending a clear message to law enforcement and corrections officers that we have their six. We’re increasing pay for the men and women who are holding that thin blue line, and we’re investing in a grant program in the “Operation Ceasefire” model that has been proven to decrease violence in our communities and keep our streets safe.

Ultimately, our budget is a starting place. The Senate will pass its version of the budget, and differences between the two documents will be resolved in conference before we send a final budget to the governor. That said, we’re proud of the work that we’ve done, and we believe it represents the will of you, the voters. This is a budget that truly gives back to Virginia.

If you would like to see the budget, you can visit https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/bill/2022/1.

If you’d like to view a complete list of legislation introduced or sponsored by me this session, feel free to follow this https://lis.virginia.gov/. You can also track other legislation in the General Assembly here. Additionally, you can watch all committee meetings and sessions live, at https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/chamber/chamberstream.php. 

At their meeting this Monday morning, a subcommittee of the House General Laws Committee voted to table the last remaining legislative vehicle for permitting legal marijuana sales in the commonwealth this year.

Members of our caucus began working on this legislation early in the session, but the more they worked, the more they realized that the regulatory framework was not practicable and made it almost impossible to build a new framework on top of it.

Now that Republicans have said we’re going to take the time to do it right, Democrats are insisting that we’re blocking their hard-fought efforts to establish a marketplace. They also argue that delay allows the black market to grow. The black market was present before Virginia legalized marijuana possession, and it will be here if retail sales are legalized.

If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right, and we can’t do it right in the time that remains.

Beginning Wednesday, March 2, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will expand access to DMV Customer Service Centers by offering both appointments and walk-ins Monday through Friday.

Appointments and walk-ins will be available Monday through Friday at all 75 customer service centers (CSCs) starting on March 2. Saturday will remain open for walk-ins at offices with Saturday hours (CSC hours vary by location).

Currently, customers may reserve an appointment on Monday or Friday or walk in for service on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday. A more advanced appointment system and the ability to prioritize planned visits through the CSCs’ queuing system will let customers choose their in-person DMV experience. This hybrid model allows CSCs to increase throughput by serving additional customers when customers do not show up for their scheduled appointments.

CSCs will achieve a balance by dedicating a percentage of in-person weekday service to appointments, with the number of appointments based on the size and location of the office.

Alternate service options are available to complete many transactions without a visit to a traditional CSC, including:

• Online: More than 50 services are available at dmvNOW.com. 

• Mail: Popular services such as driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals may be completed by mail.

• Drop-off: Customers needing a title after purchasing a vehicle from an individual (not a dealer) may drop off their applications and supporting documents at a CSC.

• DMV Select: Vehicle-related services are offered through 57 partner offices statewide.

• DMV Connect: Appointments can be scheduled for nearly every DMV service with the agency’s 14 mobile teams, which are positioned statewide.

To view DMV Connect schedules and book an appointment, please visit: https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/#csc/mcscalendar.asp. To schedule your visit or complete your transaction remotely, please visit dmvNOW.com.

It is an honor to represent you and the 59th District of Virginia. I encourage you to sign up to receive emails from my office and follow my Facebook page as I am frequently updating both with resources and links to important information. If you should need any assistance, please do not hesitate to call either office or email me at DelMFariss@house.virginia.gov.