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VA SB56

VA SB56
FOIA; procedure for responding to requests, charges, posting of notice of rights & responsibilities.


summary

Introduced
11/26/2025
In Committee
02/12/2026
Crossed Over
02/05/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; procedure for responding to requests; charges; posting of notice of rights and responsibilities. Limits the fees charged for producing public records to the median hourly rate of pay of employees of the public body or the actual hourly rate of pay of the person performing the work, whichever is less, and provides that a public body may petition a court for relief from this fee limit if there is no one who can process the request at the median hourly rate of pay or less. The bill makes corresponding amendments to the required statement on charges in the notice of rights and responsibilities that must be posted on a public body's website. The bill also amends existing law providing that a public body may petition a court for additional time to respond to a request for public records to allow such petitions to be heard in either general district or circuit court, to give such petitions priority on the court's docket, and to toll the response time while such a petition is pending before a court. The bill makes technical amendments, including moving provisions regarding charges for the production of public records into a separate section of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to modify how public bodies handle requests for public records and calculate associated charges. The bill limits fees charged for producing public records to the median hourly rate of pay of the public body's employees or the actual hourly rate of the employee performing the work, whichever is less. If no employee can process the request at or below the median rate, the public body may petition a court for relief from this fee limitation. The bill also expands court jurisdiction, allowing petitions for additional response time to be heard in either general district or circuit court and giving such petitions priority on the court's docket. Additionally, the bill makes technical amendments by moving provisions about record production charges into a separate section of the FOIA and updates the required notice of rights and responsibilities that public bodies must post on their websites to reflect the new fee calculation method. The changes aim to make public record requests more transparent and cost-effective while providing some flexibility for public bodies with limited resources.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N) (on 02/24/2026)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB56
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB56) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084062.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB56/text/SB56
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