Bill > HB463

This bill updates the Virginia Freedom of Information Act—a state law guaranteeing public access to government records and meetings—by revising how a "meeting" is legally defined and how members may participate remotely. Under the updated definition, an official meeting occurs whenever a "quorum" (the minimum number of members, typically a majority, needed to legally conduct business and vote) of a "public body" (such as a state board, commission, council, or school board) assembles, removing the older rule that specifically triggered meeting regulations when as few as three members gathered. Additionally, the legislation standardizes rules for remote attendance by allowing any member participating electronically from a distance for approved reasons—such as a disability, medical caregiving, living far away, or personal matters—to be counted toward fulfilling the in-person quorum requirement, ensuring they can fully take part in the proceedings and vote as if they were physically present.