HB 818

Abstract

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions of meetings and public business. Exempts certain public meetings from the definition of "meeting" under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to clarify that three or more members of a public body may appear and participate in such public meeting without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed. The bill also exempts members of a public body who attend a public meeting of a second public body without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed. Finally, the bill defines "public business" as activity that a public body has undertaken or proposed to undertake on behalf of the people it represents. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law. This bill is identical to SB 36.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of meeting. Amends the definition of "meeting" as it relates to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to clarify that a gathering of two or more members of a public body is not a meeting if there is no discussion or transaction of any public business by the members of the public body and that certain educational trainings are not meetings subject to FOIA. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law. The bill is in response to the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia in Gloss v. Wheeler (2023) and is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of meeting. Amends the definition of "meeting" as it relates to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to clarify that a gathering of two or more members of a public body is not a meeting if there is no discussion or transaction of any public business, defined in the bill, by the members of the public body and that certain educational trainings are not meetings subject to FOIA. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law. The bill is in response to the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia in Gloss v. Wheeler (2023) and is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.