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Bill > HB313
VA HB313
VA HB313Virginia FOIA; public records to be open to inspection, non-citizen property owners.
summary
Introduced
01/09/2026
01/09/2026
In Committee
01/09/2026
01/09/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; public records to be open to inspection; non-citizen property owners. Includes non-citizens owning property within the Commonwealth among the list of persons to whom all public records shall be open under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to expand the definition of who is entitled to access public records. Previously, only citizens of the Commonwealth, along with representatives of newspapers, magazines, and radio and television stations, could inspect public records. This bill adds "non-citizens owning property within the Commonwealth" to this list, meaning individuals who do not hold U.S. citizenship but own land in Virginia will now have the same rights to access public records as citizens under FOIA. The rest of the bill outlines the procedures for requesting and responding to public records requests, including timelines, charges for copies, and how to handle requests for electronic data, none of which are changed by this amendment.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs, Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Left in Committee General Laws (on 02/18/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB313 |
| General Laws Amendment | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB313/text/HB313AHC1 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB313) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084877.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB313/text/HB313 |
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