Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 321 — Administrative and civil proceedings; protected information, newspersons engaged in journalism.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589)

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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 09, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on April 05, 2024.

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 7 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

Protected information in administrative and civil proceedings; newspersons engaged in journalism. Expands the protected information privilege for newspersons to administrative and civil proceedings. Under current law, a newsperson engaged in journalism shall not be compelled by the Commonwealth or a locality to testify about, disclose, or produce protected information, with certain exceptions, in criminal proceedings only.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

47 added · 46 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill SB 321 clarifies the definitions of "journalism" and "newsperson" to better protect individuals and entities involved in disseminating news. Specifically, it emphasizes the qualifications that a news organization must meet to be recognized, such as being part of established journalism associations or operating for a significant period. This change is important because it strengthens legal protections for journalists, ensuring that those who engage in responsible journalism can do so without compromising their rights or facing undue legal challenges.

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Latest
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 19.2-271.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to protected information in administrative and civil proceedings;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER 589 An Act to amend and reenact § 19.2-271.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to protected information in administrative and civil proceedings;
R O [S 321] Approved L L 1.
[S 321] Approved April 5, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
E A.
A.
D "Journalism" means the gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public.
"Journalism" means the gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public.
"News organization" means any (i) newspaper or magazine issued at regular intervals and having a station that engages in journalism;
general circulation;
or (iv) business that, by means of photographic or electronic media,on engages in journalism and employs an editor overseeing the journalism function that follows comSonly accepted journalistic practice as evidenced by (a) membership in a state-based journalism organization, including the Virginia Press Association and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters;
(ii) recognized press association or wire service;
(b) membership in a national journalism organization, including the National Press Club, the Society of ProfesEional Journalists, and the Online News Association;
(iii) licensed radio or television station that engages in journalism;
or (iv) business that, by means of photographic or electronic media, engages in journalism and employs an editor overseeing the journalism function that follows commonly accepted journalistic practice as evidenced by (a) membership in a state-based journalism organization, including the Virginia Press Association and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters;
(b) membership in a national journalism organization, including the National Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Online News Association;
or (d) its continuous ope"Newsperson" means any person who, for a substantial portion of his livelihood or for substantial financial gain, engages in journalism for a news organization.
or (d) its continuous operation since 1994 or earlier.
"Newsperson" means any person who, for a substantial portion of his livelihood or for substantial financial gain, engages in journalism for a news organization.
Except as provided in subsection C, no newsperson in any administrative, civil, or criminal case of a civil proceeding, a party to such proceeding to testify about, disclose, or produce protected information.
Except as provided in subsection C, no newsperson in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding shall be compelled by the Commonwealth or a locality in any criminal proceeding or, in the case of a civil proceeding, a party to such proceeding to testify about, disclose, or produce protected information.
2.
The protected information is not obtainable from any alternative source;
The publication by a news organization or the dissemination by a newsperson of protected compelled testimony, disclosure, and production provided by subsection B.waiver of the protection from
The publication by a news organization or the dissemination by a newsperson of protected information obtained while engaging in journalism shall not constitute a waiver of the protection from compelled testimony, disclosure, and production provided by subsection B.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0589)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 589 (effective 7/1/24)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB321ER)

  8. Enrolled

  9. House amendments agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  10. VOTE: Passage (71-Y 28-N)

  11. Passed House with amendments (71-Y 28-N)

  12. Engrossed by House as amended

  13. Passed by temporarily

  14. Committee amendments agreed to

  15. Read third time

  16. Read second time

  17. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (11-Y 10-N)

  18. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (5-Y 3-N)

  19. Assigned Courts sub: Civil

  20. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  21. Read first time

  22. Placed on Calendar

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

  24. Read second time and engrossed

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

  26. Reported from Courts of Justice (10-Y 5-N)

  27. Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name

  28. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  29. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100946D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 35 voted No

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

House amendments agreed to by 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
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

VOTE: Passage (71-Y 28-N)

Passed 70 Yea · 28 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 702801
Total 702801
% of votes cast 71%28%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Not Voting
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (11-Y 10-N)

Passed 11 Yea · 10 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 111001
Total 111001
% of votes cast 50%45%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Not Voting
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (5-Y 3-N)

Passed 5 Yea · 3 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5301
Total 5301
% of votes cast 56%33%0%11%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Not Voting
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay

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
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — 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
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Courts of Justice (10-Y 5-N)

Passed 10 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10500
Total 10500
% of votes cast 67%33%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

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 SB 321 do?
Protected information in administrative and civil proceedings; newspersons engaged in journalism. Expands the protected information privilege for newspersons to administrative and civil proceedings. Under current law, a newsperson engaged in journalism shall not be compelled by the Commonwealth or a locality to testify about, disclose, or produce protected information, with certain exceptions, in criminal proceedings only.
Who sponsors SB 321?
SB 321 is sponsored by Danica A. Roem.
What is the current status of SB 321?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 321?
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