Bill > HB2272

This bill modifies the Virginia Freedom of Information Act by creating a new section of law that exempts most Virginia Parole Board meetings from public disclosure requirements. Specifically, the bill provides that any meeting of Parole Board members, including those where staff or guests are invited, will not be considered a "meeting" under the Freedom of Information Act, with one key exception: the final public meeting where the board conducts deliberations and votes on whether to grant parole to a specific prisoner. This means that the Parole Board can now hold private discussions and meetings without being required to make them open to the public or provide public notice, except for the final vote on an individual prisoner's parole. The bill appears designed to give the Parole Board more flexibility in its internal processes while maintaining transparency for the final decision-making stage. By creating this exemption, the legislation changes existing transparency rules to provide the board with greater discretion in how it conducts its preliminary discussions and meetings.

Justice

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2272