Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of "caregiver"; remote participation in meetings by persons with disabilities and caregivers; remote voting. Provides that for purposes of determining whether a quorum is physically assembled, an individual member of a public body who is a person with a disability or a caregiver, defined in the bill, and uses remote participation counts toward the quorum as if the individual was physically present. The bill also provides that the participation policy adopted by a public body, as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, shall not prohibit or restrict any individual member of a public body who is participating in an all-virtual meeting or who is using remote participation from voting on matters before the public body. As introduced, the bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. This bill is identical to SB 85.

Statutes affected:
House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104336D: 2.2-3701, 2.2-3708.3
Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107743D-S1: 2.2-3701, 2.2-3708.3
House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1040ER): 2.2-3701, 2.2-3708.3
Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0610): 2.2-3701, 2.2-3708.3