Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 259 — Virginia Freedom of Information Act; excludes library records.

Last action — Approved by Governor-Chapter 587 (effective 7/1/20)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 03, 2020. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; library records. Clarifies that information contained in library records that can be used to identify any library patron who has borrowed or accessed material or resources from a library as well as the material or resources such patron borrowed or accessed is exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. This bill is identical to HB 313.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

72 added · 68 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of Bill SB 259 clarifies certain provisions regarding access to library records and working papers under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Notably, it specifies that resumes or applications submitted by those appointed by the Governor cannot be withheld from public inspection. These changes help ensure transparency in government appointments while maintaining protection for sensitive information, making it easier for citizens to understand their rights and the availability of public records.

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Code of Virginia Administrative Code Bills & Resolutions Summaries OTHER SESSIONS   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Session Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Session Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Session Session Special Session I Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Session Special Session I Session Session Special Session I Special Session II Session Session Session Special Session I Session Session Session Special Session I Session Session Session Session Special Session I Special Session II VIRGINIA LAW PORTALCode of VirginiaVirginia Administrative Code Constitution of VirginiaChartersAuthoritiesCompacts Uncodified ActsRIS Users (account required) SEARCHABLE DATABASESBills & Resolutionssession legislationBill Summariessession summaries Reports to the General AssemblyHouse and Senate documents Legislative LiaisonsState agency contactsACROSS SESSIONS Subject Index:
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTER 587 An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;
[S 259] Approved   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[S 259] Approved March 31, 2020   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)
  • Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0587) View text Current html March 31, 2020
  • Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB259ER) View text html March 02, 2020
  • Impact statement from DPB (SB259) View text html January 03, 2020

Action History

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 587 (effective 7/1/20)

  2. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020

  3. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 12, 2020

  4. Signed by President

  5. Signed by Speaker

  6. Impact statement from DPB (SB259ER)

  7. Enrolled

  8. VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N)

  9. Passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)

  10. Read third time

  11. Read second time

  12. Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

  13. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  14. Read first time

  15. Placed on Calendar

  16. Impact statement from DPB (SB259)

  17. Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  18. Read second time and engrossed

  19. Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

  20. Reported from General Laws and Technology (13-Y 0-N)

  21. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  22. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20102400D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 145 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (145)

145 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 145 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N)

Passed 99 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 99000
Total 99000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Brewer, Emily M. — Yea
Collins, Christopher E. — Yea
Lindsey, Joseph C. — Yea
Adams, Dawn M. — Yea
Adams, Les R. — Yea
Aird, Lashrecse D. — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Askew, Alex Q. — Yea
Avoli, G. "John" — Yea
Ayala, Hala S. — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Bell, Robert B. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bourne, Jeffrey M. — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Byron, Kathy J. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Campbell, Jeffrey L. — Yea
Campbell, Ronnie R. — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Carter, Lee J. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Cole, Mark L. — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cox, M. Kirkland — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Davis, Glenn R. — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Edmunds, James E., II — Yea
Fariss, C. Matthew — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Gooditis, Wendy W. — Yea
Guy, Nancy D. — Yea
Guzman, Elizabeth R. — Yea
Heretick, Steve E. — Yea
Hudson, Sally L. — Yea
Hurst, Chris L. — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jenkins, Clinton L. — Yea
Jones, Jerrauld C. "Jay" — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Keam, Mark L. — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Kory, Kaye — Yea
LaRock, Dave A. — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Levine, Mark H. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Mugler, Martha M. — Yea
Mullin, Michael P. — Yea
Murphy, Kathleen — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Plum, Kenneth R. — Yea
Poindexter, Charles D. — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Ransone, Margaret B. — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Robinson, Roxann L. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rush, Nick — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Samirah, Ibraheem S. — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Tyler, Roslyn C. — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wampler, William C., III — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21001
Total 21001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Brewer, Emily M. — Yea
Adams, Dawn M. — Yea
Aird, Lashrecse D. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Cole, Mark L. — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Not Voting
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Hurst, Chris L. — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Murphy, Kathleen — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Wampler, William C., III — Yea

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Yea
Chase, Amanda F. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 38002
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Not Voting
Chase, Amanda F. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Not Voting
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws and Technology (13-Y 0-N)

Passed 13 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 13002
Total 13002
% of votes cast 87%0%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Not Voting
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Not Voting
Todd E. Pillion — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 259 do?
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; library records. Clarifies that information contained in library records that can be used to identify any library patron who has borrowed or accessed material or resources from a library as well as the material or resources such patron borrowed or accessed is exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. This bill is identical to HB 313.
Who sponsors SB 259?
SB 259 is sponsored by Karrie K. Delaney, Vogel, Jill Holtzman, and Bell, John J..
What is the current status of SB 259?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 03, 2020. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 259?
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