HB 154

Abstract

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; public recordsdatabase. Requires the establishment of a publicly available,centralized database for all public records. All public bodies willbe required to transfer any public records in its possession to thedatabase. The bill directs Virginia Information Technologies Agency(VITA), in consultation with the Virginia Freedom of Information AdvisoryCouncil, to (i) convene a workgroup consisting of representativesfrom state and local public bodies in every region of the Commonwealthto conduct research, evaluate data, and determine a plan for implementationof the database and (ii) report its recommendations to the Governorand the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the SenateCommittee on General Laws and Technology on or before December 1,2022. The provisions of the bill that establish the central publicrecords database shall become effective on July 1, 2023, and the provisionsof the bill requiring every public body to submit its public recordsto VITA for inclusion in the central public records database shallbecome effective on January 1, 2024.