Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 548 — FOIA; exempts DBHDS records of active investigations.

Last action — Approved by Governor-Chapter 48 (effective 7/1/20)

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 05, 2020. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · 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.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 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; exclusions; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; records of active investigations. Exempts from mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act records of active investigations that are being conducted by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

41 added · 37 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to HB 548 change how information from investigations by local governing bodies is handled under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, the amendments clarify that completed investigation reports can be shared without revealing the identities of complainants or those providing information. This change is important because it enhances transparency while still protecting the privacy of individuals involved in sensitive investigations, thereby fostering public trust in government accountability.

→
Previous
Latest
Code of Virginia Administrative Code Bills & Resolutions Summaries OTHER SESSIONS   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Session 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:
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 § 2.2-3705.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTER 48 An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;
[H 548] Approved   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[H 548] Approved March 2, 2020   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Information provided in confidence and related to an investigation by the Attorney General under Article 1 (§ 3.2-4200 et seq.) or Article (§ 3.2-4204 et seq.) of Chapter 42 of Title 3.2, Article 10 (§ 18.2-246.6 et seq.) of Chapter 6 or Chapter 13 (§ 18.2-512 et seq.) of Title 18.2, or Article (§ 58.1-1000) of Chapter 10 of Title 58.1.
Information provided in confidence and related to an investigation by the Attorney General under Article 1 (§ 3.2-4200 et seq.) or Article 3 (§ 3.2-4204 et seq.) of Chapter 42 of Title 3.2, Article 10 (§ 18.2-246.6 et seq.) of Chapter 6 or Chapter 13 (§ 18.2-512 et seq.) of Title 18.2, or Article 1 (§ 58.1-1000) of Chapter 10 of Title 58.1.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)
  • Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0048) View text Current html March 02, 2020
  • Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB548ER) View text html February 19, 2020
  • Impact statement from DPB (HB548) View text html January 05, 2020

Action History

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 48 (effective 7/1/20)

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

  3. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 24, 2020

  4. Impact statement from DPB (HB548ER)

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Enrolled

  8. Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  9. Read third time

  10. Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

  11. Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)

  12. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed

  14. VOTE: (98-Y 0-N)

  15. Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)

  16. Read second time and engrossed

  17. Read first time

  18. Reported from General Laws (22-Y 0-N)

  19. Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

  20. Assigned GL sub: Open Government/Procurement

  21. Impact statement from DPB (HB548)

  22. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  23. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20102473D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"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

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

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (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
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Chase, Amanda F. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea

Official roll call →

VOTE: (98-Y 0-N)

Passed 97 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 97002
Total 97002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Brewer, Emily M. — Yea
Collins, Christopher E. — Yea
Lindsey, Joseph C. — Not Voting
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. — Not Voting
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 (22-Y 0-N)

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 22000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Murphy, Kathleen — Yea
Hurst, Chris L. — Yea
Cole, Mark L. — Yea
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Brewer, Emily M. — Yea
Wampler, William C., III — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
David L. Bulova — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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 HB 548 do?
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exclusions; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; records of active investigations. Exempts from mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act records of active investigations that are being conducted by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Who sponsors HB 548?
HB 548 is sponsored by Karrie K. Delaney.
What is the current status of HB 548?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 05, 2020. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 548?
Track HB 548 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 548

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 548

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →