# Virginia HB463: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions, meetings, quorum and electronic communication.

Virginia HB463, Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions, meetings, quorum and electronic communication., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-01-29 (Continued to 2027 in General Laws (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB463-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB463
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions, meetings, quorum and electronic communication.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-01-29, Continued to 2027 in General Laws (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Procurement/Open Government
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Continued to 2027 in General Laws (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-01-29: Continued to 2027 in General Laws (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government (House)
- 2026-01-14: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB463) (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101367D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084549.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084548.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084549.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084548.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB463-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).