House Bill 95, which would have stripped public notices from newspapers and shifted them to local government websites, died in subcommittee this morning. The bill, filed by Del. Chris Head, R-Roanoke, was opposed by the Virginia Press Association and SPJ Virginia Pro Chapter as a matter of the public’s right to know. The bill failedContinue reading “Public notice bill fails”
Category Archives: General Assembly
Public notice bills: SPJVA works to protect right to know
The Virginia Pro chapter of SPJ was active during the 2013 session of the Virginia General Assembly, working to defeat public notice legislation that would curtail the public’s right to know. The Code of Virginia requires the publication of public notices for a number of government activities, including requests for proposals for building projects, zoningContinue reading “Public notice bills: SPJVA works to protect right to know”
Elimination of physical quorum rule proposed
The FOIA Council subcommittee is considering whether to recommend eliminating the requirement that state or local bodies have a quorum physically present when doing business. Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said that her group opposes the proposed change. Current FOIA rules say state agencies must have a quorum inContinue reading “Elimination of physical quorum rule proposed”
VCOG exec: ’11 session went well for FOIA
Only one new exemption to the Freedom of Information Act made it through the 2011 General Assembly, according to Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government. And that exemption is narrow, covering the Commercial Space Flight Authority. Usually several new exemptions pass during a session, she said. Rhyne spoke to theContinue reading “VCOG exec: ’11 session went well for FOIA”
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