SB56Introduced in the Senate
FOIA; procedure for responding to requests, charges, posting of notice of rights & responsibilities.
Introduced by Danica Roem, District 30
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
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.
Where it stands
Left in General Laws
March 10, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
1 recorded vote · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N) · February 24, 2026
10
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
10 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Marcus Simon | 13 | Yes |
| Atoosa Reaser | 27 | Yes |
| Joshua Cole | 28 | Yes |
| Bill Wiley | 32 | Yes |
| Lily Franklin | 41 | Yes |
| Hyland Fowler | 59 | Yes |
| Betsy Carr | 78 | Yes |
| Robert Bloxom | 100 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100741D
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB56)
Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on General Laws
Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N)
Left in General Laws
Verify the information
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