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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 463: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions, meetings, quorum and electronic communication.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 463 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 12, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions, meetings, quorum and electronic communication. Primary sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (January 29, 2026): Continued to next session in General Laws (Voice Vote).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions; meetings; quorum and electronic communication. Amends the definition of "meeting" for purposes of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act such that any assemblage of a quorum of the constituent membership of a public body constitutes a meeting. Under current law, as many as three members or a quorum, if less than three, of the constituent membership of a public body constitutes a meeting. The bill additionally authorizes members of a public body participating through electronic communication in a meeting in which other members are participating in person to count toward the quorum as if the individual were physically present, should such member's physical absence be due to an approved cause of absence.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Laura Jane CohenPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse15

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Continued to next session in General Laws (Voice Vote)
  2. Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
  3. Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government
  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB463)
  5. Referred to Committee on General Laws
  6. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101367D

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source