SB 85 Virginia Senate · 2024 Regular Session

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of 'caregiver,' remote participation in meetings.

Summary
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of "caregiver"; remote participation in meetings by persons with disabilities and caregivers; remote voting. Provides that for purposes of determining whether a quorum is physically assembled, an individual member of a public body who is a person with a disability or a caregiver, defined in the bill, and uses remote participation counts toward the quorum as if the individual was physically present. The bill also provides that the participation policy adopted by a public body, as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, shall not prohibit or restrict any individual member of a public body who is participating in an all-virtual meeting or who is using remote participation from voting on matters before the public body. As introduced, the bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. This bill is identical to HB 1040.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2024
Senate Passage
Mar 2024
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2024
Signed into Law
Apr 2024
Introduced Jan 1, 2024 Signed Apr 8, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Jan 23, 2024 · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2024

How they voted

2811
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jan 23, 2024
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
8 Yea 11 Nay
57% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Apr 8, 2024
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 617 (effective 7/1/24)
executive
Mar 2, 2024
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 28, 2024
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 28, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB85ER)
upper
Feb 23, 2024
Lower · Passed
VOTE: Passage (95-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 23, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed House (95-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 20, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 13, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
Jan 23, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 11-N)
upper
Jan 22, 2024
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended SB85E
upper
Jan 22, 2024
Upper · Passed
Amendment by Senator Favola agreed to
upper
Jan 22, 2024
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Jan 17, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
upper
Jan 1, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Barbara Favola
Barbara Favola
DDemocratic
VA
40