# Virginia HB644: FOIA; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state public bodies.

Virginia HB644, FOIA; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state public bodies., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0189)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB644-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB644
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: FOIA; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state public bodies.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0189)
- Sponsor: Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (315 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state bodies. Exempts from the mandatory disclosure requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act the personal contact information of minors who are participating in a program, such as an apprenticeship or unpaid internship or externship, run by a state public body. The bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Kids' contact info in state programs stays private: benefit, low. The law keeps personal contact information for anyone under 18 in a Virginia state public body program out of public records requests. Covered programs include things like an apprenticeship, unpaid internship, or externship. The protected info is a home or mailing address, email address, and phone…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 36 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology | pass | 13 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Reported from General Laws | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0189) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 189 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB644) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB644ER) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate (36-Y 2-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from General Laws and Technology (13-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government (House)
- 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB644) (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100536D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216858.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216857.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177879.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177878.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085328.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085327.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216858.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216857.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177879.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177878.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085328.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085327.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB644-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).