VA HB444 | 2022 | Regular Session

Status

Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Passed on April 11 2022 - 100% progression
Action: 2022-04-11 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0597)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]

Summary

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; meetings conducted through electronic communication means. Amends existing provisions concerning electronic meetings by keeping the provisions for electronic meetings held in response to declared states of emergency, repealing the provisions that are specific to regional and state public bodies, and allowing certain public bodies to conduct all-virtual public meetings where all of the members who participate do so remotely and that the public may access through electronic communications means. The bill excepts local governing bodies, local school boards, planning commissions, architectural review boards, zoning appeals boards, and any board with the authority to deny, revoke, or suspend a professional or occupational license from the provisions that allow public bodies to conduct all-virtual public meetings. Definitions, procedural requirements, and limitations for all-virtual public meetings are set forth in the bill, along with technical amendments. The bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2022. Virginia Freedom of Information Act; meetings conducted through electronic communication means. Amends existing provisions concerning electronic meetings by keeping the provisions for electronic meetings held in response to declared states of emergency, repealing the provisions that are specific to regional and state public bodies, and allowing certain public bodies to conduct all-virtual public meetings where all of the members who participate do so remotely and that the public may access through electronic communications means. The bill excepts local governing bodies, local school boards, planning commissions, architectural review boards, zoning appeals boards, and any board with the authority to deny, revoke, or suspend a professional or occupational license from the provisions that allow public bodies to conduct all-virtual public meetings. Definitions, procedural requirements, and limitations for all-virtual public meetings are set forth in the bill, along with technical amendments. The bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2022.

Tracking Information

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Title

Va. Freedom of Information Act; meetings conducted through electronic meetings, states of emergency.

Sponsors


Roll Calls

2022-03-10 - House - House: VOTE: Adoption (97-Y 0-N) (Y: 97 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2022-03-10 - Senate - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute with amendments (25-Y 15-N) (Y: 25 N: 15 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2022-03-07 - Senate - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (Y: 38 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2022-03-02 - Senate - Senate: Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (Y: 12 N: 3 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2022-02-02 - House - House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (98-Y 0-N) (Y: 98 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2022-01-27 - House - House: Reported from General Laws (22-Y 0-N) (Y: 22 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2022-01-25 - House - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) (Y: 8 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]

History

DateChamberAction
2022-04-11 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0597)
2022-04-11 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 597 (effective 9/1/22)
2022-03-22 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2022
2022-03-22HouseEnrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 22, 2022
2022-03-22HouseSigned by Speaker
2022-03-21SenateSigned by President
2022-03-21HouseBill text as passed House and Senate (HB444ER)
2022-03-21HouseEnrolled
2022-03-10HouseVOTE: Adoption (97-Y 0-N)
2022-03-10HouseSenate substitute with amendments agreed to by House 22107153D-S1 (97-Y 0-N)
2022-03-10SenatePassed Senate with substitute with amendments (25-Y 15-N)
2022-03-10SenateEngrossed by Senate - committee substitute with amendments HB444S1
2022-03-10SenateAmendment #3 by Senator Petersen agreed to
2022-03-10SenateReading of amendment #3 waived
2022-03-10SenateAmendments #1, #2 by Senator Petersen agreed to
2022-03-10SenateReading of amendments #1, #2 waived
2022-03-10SenatePassed by temporarily
2022-03-10SenateRead third time
2022-03-09SenatePassed by for the day
2022-03-09SenatePassed by temporarily
2022-03-09SenateRead third time
2022-03-08SenatePassed by for the day
2022-03-08SenateCommittee substitute agreed to 22107153D-S1
2022-03-08SenateReading of substitute waived
2022-03-08SenateRead third time
2022-03-07SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
2022-03-04SenatePassed by for the day
2022-03-02SenateCommittee substitute printed 22107153D-S1
2022-03-02SenateReported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (12-Y 3-N)
2022-02-03SenateReferred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
2022-02-03SenateConstitutional reading dispensed
2022-02-02HouseVOTE: Block Vote Passage (98-Y 0-N)
2022-02-02HouseRead third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
2022-02-01HouseRead second time and engrossed
2022-01-31HouseRead first time
2022-01-27HouseReported from General Laws (22-Y 0-N)
2022-01-25HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
2022-01-21HouseAssigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4
2022-01-11HouseReferred to Committee on General Laws
2022-01-11HousePrefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22104056D

Subjects


Code Citations

ChapterArticleSectionCitation TypeStatute Text
1011322.01(n/a)See Bill Text
1521627.4(n/a)See Bill Text
222455(n/a)See Bill Text
223701(n/a)See Bill Text
223707(n/a)See Bill Text
223707.01(n/a)See Bill Text
223708.2(n/a)See Bill Text
223708.3(n/a)See Bill Text
223714(n/a)See Bill Text
2311301(n/a)See Bill Text
2312425(n/a)See Bill Text
62144.15:02(n/a)See Bill Text

Virginia State Sources

TypeSource
Summaryhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB444
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+ful+HB444+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+ful+HB444S1+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+ful+HB444ER+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0597+hil
Amendmenthttps://committees.lis.virginia.gov/pdfs/drafts/22107153D.pdf
Amendmenthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+amd+HB444AS
Amendmenthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+amd+HB444ASE
Supplementhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+oth+HB444F122+PDF
Supplementhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+oth+HB444FS1122+PDF
Supplementhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+oth+HB444FER122+PDF
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+H1104V0006+HB0444
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+H11V0021+HB0444
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+HV0366+HB0444
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+S12V0171+HB0444
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+SV0829HB0444+HB0444
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+SV1050HB0444+HB0444
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+vot+HV1728+HB0444

Bill Comments

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