Virginia 2018 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 908 — Virginia Freedom of Information Act; meetings held by electronic communication means.

Last action — Approved by Governor-Chapter 56 (effective 7/1/18)

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  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 09, 2018. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · 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.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 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

Removes the Freedom of Information Act requirement that the remote locations from which members of a public body participate in meetings through electronic communication means be open to the public. Instead, members of the public must be provided an electronic communication means substantially equivalent to that provided to members of the public body through which the public may witness the meeting. The bill provides that public access to remote locations from which members of the public body participate through electronic communication means shall be encouraged but not required; however, if three or more members are gathered at the same remote location, such remote location must be open to the public. The bill also amends the annual reporting requirements for public bodies that meet by electronic communication means. This bill is a recommendation of the Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

10 added · 9 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill HB 908 includes a new provision outlining the requirements for recording attendance at meetings, specifically detailing how members who participate remotely should be documented. It clarifies that meeting minutes must indicate both the member's remote location and if their participation was disapproved. This change aims to enhance transparency and accountability in how public bodies conduct meetings, especially considering the rise of remote participation.

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SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3708, 2.2-3708.1, and 30-179 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Freedom of Information Act;
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTER 56 An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3708, 2.2-3708.1, and 30-179 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Freedom of Information Act;
[H 908] Approved   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[H 908] Approved February 28, 2018   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
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View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 56 (effective 7/1/18)

  2. Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 1, 2018

  3. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/22/18

  4. Signed by President

  5. Signed by Speaker

  6. Enrolled

  7. Read third time

  8. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  9. Constitutional reading dispensed

  10. Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N)

  11. Read second time and engrossed

  12. Read first time

  13. Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4

  14. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  15. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18100760D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"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

Read third time and passed House

Passed 97 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 97000
Total 97000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (97)
Member Party Vote
Ayala — Yea
Cole — Yea
Gooditis — Yea
Habeeb — Yea
Hugo — Yea
Hurst — Yea
James — Yea
Kory — Yea
LaRock — Yea
Landes — Yea
Orrock — Yea
Pogge — Yea
Poindexter — Yea
Rodman — Yea
Rush — Yea
Turpin — Yea
Tyler — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Bell, Richard P. — Yea
Bell, Robert B. — Yea
Bourne — Yea
Bulova — Yea
Byron — Yea
Campbell — Yea
Carter — Yea
Cline — Yea
Collins — Yea
Edmunds — Yea
Jones, J.C. — Yea
Jones, S.C. — Yea
Marshall — Yea
Fariss — Yea
Filler-Corn — Yea
Gilbert — Yea
Helsel — Yea
Heretick — Yea
Ingram — Yea
Keam — Yea
Levine — Yea
Lindsey — Yea
Miyares — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Murphy — Yea
Peace — Yea
Plum — Yea
Ransone — Yea
Robinson — Yea
Stolle — Yea
Toscano — Yea
Yancey — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Mark D. Sickles — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Will Davis — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights elections 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 HB 908 do?
Removes the Freedom of Information Act requirement that the remote locations from which members of a public body participate in meetings through electronic communication means be open to the public. Instead, members of the public must be provided an electronic communication means substantially equivalent to that provided to members of the public body through which the public may witness the meeting. The bill provides that public access to remote locations from which members of the public body participate through electronic communication means shall be encouraged but not required; however, if three or more members are gathered at the same remote location, such remote location must be open to the public. The bill also amends the annual reporting requirements for public bodies that meet by electronic communication means. This bill is a recommendation of the Freedom of Information Advisory Council.
Who sponsors HB 908?
HB 908 is sponsored by Kory, Kaye and Robinson, Roxann L..
What is the current status of HB 908?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2018. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 908?
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