Virginia Freedom of Information Act; amends definition of meeting, provisions of Act.
Summary
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions of meetings and public business. Exempts certain public meetings from the definition of "meeting" under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to clarify that three or more members of a public body may appear and participate in such public meeting without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed. The bill also exempts members of a public body who attend a public meeting of a second public body without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed. Finally, the bill defines "public business" as activity that a public body has undertaken or proposed to undertake on behalf of the people it represents. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law. This bill is identical to HB 818.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2023
Committee Review
Mar 2024
Senate Passage
Mar 2024
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2024
Signed into Law
Apr 2024
Introduced Dec 16, 2023
Signed Apr 8, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Jan 30, 2024 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2024
How they voted
40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Jan 30, 2024
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
51
Key actions
14
Committee
10
Apr 8, 2024
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 756 (effective 7/1/24)
executive
Mar 26, 2024
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 25, 2024
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 25, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB36ER)
upper
Mar 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Mar 8, 2024
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (99-Y 0-N)
lower
Mar 7, 2024
Legislature · Passed
Amended by conference committee
legislature
Mar 4, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Mar 1, 2024
Committee
House requested conference committee
lower
Feb 27, 2024
Lower · Passed
VOTE: Block Vote Passage (97-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 27, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 14, 2024
Committee
Assigned GL sub: Procurement/Open Government
lower
Feb 13, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
Jan 30, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 24, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 24, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Dec 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mamie Locke
DDemocratic
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