{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-3708.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-3708.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-3708.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-3708.2.html"}],"law_id":78376,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78376,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.2","catch_line":"Meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency","history":"2018, cc. 55, 56; 2019, c. 359; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 33, 490; 2022, c. 597; 2024, cc. 305, 344.","full_text":"Any public body, or any joint meetings thereof, may meet by electronic communication means without a quorum of the public body physically assembled at one location when the Governor has declared a state of emergency in accordance with \u00a7 44-146.17 or the locality in which the public body is located has declared a local state of emergency pursuant to \u00a7 44-146.21, provided that (i) the catastrophic nature of the declared emergency makes it impracticable or unsafe to assemble a quorum in a single location and (ii) the purpose of the meeting is to provide for the continuity of operations of the public body or the discharge of its lawful purposes, duties, and responsibilities. The public body convening a meeting in accordance with this section shall:\n\n1\n\nGive public notice using the best available method given the nature of the emergency, which notice shall be given contemporaneously with the notice provided to members of the public body conducting the meeting;2\n\nMake arrangements for public access to such meeting through electronic communication means, including videoconferencing if already used by the public body;3\n\nProvide the public with the opportunity to comment at those meetings of the public body when public comment is customarily received; and4\n\nOtherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe nature of the emergency, the fact that the meeting was held by electronic communication means, and the type of electronic communication means by which the meeting was held shall be stated in the minutes.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section shall be applicable only for the duration of the emergency declared pursuant to § 44-146.17 or 44-146.21.\n\t\t\tNothing herein shall be deemed to invalidate any action taken at a meeting held by a public body using electronic communication means that occurred between March 20, 2020, and July 1, 2021, if such public body provided public notice, public access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of this section and §§ 2.2-3710, 2.2-3711, and 2.2-3712.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":280913,"text":"Any public body, or any joint meetings thereof, may meet by electronic communication means without a quorum of the public body physically assembled at one location when the Governor has declared a state of emergency in accordance with \u00a7 44-146.17 or the locality in which the public body is located has declared a local state of emergency pursuant to \u00a7 44-146.21, provided that (i) the catastrophic nature of the declared emergency makes it impracticable or unsafe to assemble a quorum in a single location and (ii) the purpose of the meeting is to provide for the continuity of operations of the public body or the discharge of its lawful purposes, duties, and responsibilities. The public body convening a meeting in accordance with this section shall:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":280914,"text":"Give public notice using the best available method given the nature of the emergency, which notice shall be given contemporaneously with the notice provided to members of the public body conducting the meeting;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":280915,"text":"Make arrangements for public access to such meeting through electronic communication means, including videoconferencing if already used by the public body;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":280916,"text":"Provide the public with the opportunity to comment at those meetings of the public body when public comment is customarily received; and","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":280917,"text":"Otherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe nature of the emergency, the fact that the meeting was held by electronic communication means, and the type of electronic communication means by which the meeting was held shall be stated in the minutes.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section shall be applicable only for the duration of the emergency declared pursuant to § 44-146.17 or 44-146.21.\n\t\t\tNothing herein shall be deemed to invalidate any action taken at a meeting held by a public body using electronic communication means that occurred between March 20, 2020, and July 1, 2021, if such public body provided public notice, public access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of this section and §§ 2.2-3710, 2.2-3711, and 2.2-3712.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12976,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Freedom of Information Act","identifier":"37","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12751,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","permalink":{"id":176447,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12976,"identifier":"37","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37","url":"\/2.2\/II\/B\/37\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12751,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transaction of Public Business","identifier":"B","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12750,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":176445,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12751,"identifier":"B","token":"2.2\/II\/B","url":"\/2.2\/II\/B\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12750,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of State Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":176253,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12750,"identifier":"II","token":"2.2\/II","url":"\/2.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55569,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; 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This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 55<\/a> and 56<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2019, chapter 359<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 597<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 305<\/a> and 344<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62411,"section_number":"2.2-3701","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3701\/"},{"id":58697,"section_number":"2.2-3707","catch_line":"Meetings to be public; notice of meetings; recordings; minutes","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3707\/"},{"id":58814,"section_number":"2.2-3707.01","catch_line":"Meetings of the General Assembly","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3707.01\/"},{"id":73159,"section_number":"2.2-3714","catch_line":"Violations and penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3714\/"},{"id":66510,"section_number":"33.2-1912","catch_line":"Quorum and action by commission","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-1912\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66505,"section_number":"2.2-3710","catch_line":"Transaction of public business other than by votes at meetings prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3710\/"},{"id":72789,"section_number":"2.2-3711","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Closed meetings authorized for certain limited purposes","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3711\/"},{"id":54622,"section_number":"2.2-3712","catch_line":"Closed meetings procedures; certification of proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3712\/"},{"id":78828,"section_number":"44-146.17","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Governor","order_by":null,"url":"\/44-146.17\/"},{"id":67566,"section_number":"44-146.21","catch_line":"Declaration of local emergency","order_by":null,"url":"\/44-146.21\/"}],"permalink":{"id":176561,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78376,"identifier":"2.2-3708.2","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.2","url":"\/2.2-3708.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-3708.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-3708.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any public body<\/span>, or any joint meetings<\/span><\/span> thereof, may meet by electronic communication<\/span> means without a quorum of the public body<\/span> physically assembled at one location when the Governor has declared a state of emergency<\/span> in accordance with \u00a7 44-146.17<\/a> or the locality in which the public body<\/span> is located has declared a local state of emergency<\/span> pursuant to \u00a7 44-146.21<\/a>, provided that (i) the catastrophic nature of the declared emergency<\/span> makes it impracticable or unsafe to assemble a quorum in a single location and (ii) the purpose of the meeting<\/span> is to provide for the continuity of operations of the public body<\/span> or the discharge of its lawful purposes, duties, and responsibilities. The public body<\/span> convening a meeting<\/span> in accordance with this section shall:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Give public notice using the best available method given the nature of the emergency<\/span>, which notice shall be given contemporaneously with the notice provided to members of the public body<\/span> conducting the meeting<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Make arrangements for public access to such meeting<\/span> through electronic communication<\/span> means, including videoconferencing if already used by the public body<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Provide the public with the opportunity to comment at those meetings<\/span><\/span> of the public body<\/span> when public comment is customarily received; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Otherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe nature of the emergency<\/span>, the fact<\/span> that the meeting<\/span> was held by electronic communication<\/span> means, and the type of electronic communication<\/span> means by which the meeting<\/span> was held shall be stated in the minutes.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section shall be applicable only for the duration of the emergency<\/span> declared pursuant to § 44-146.17<\/a> or 44-146.21<\/a>.\n\t\t\tNothing herein shall be deemed to invalidate any action taken at a meeting<\/span> held by a public body<\/span> using electronic communication<\/span> means that occurred between March 20, 2020, and July 1, 2021, if such public body<\/span> provided public notice, public access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of this section and §§ 2.2-3710<\/a>, 2.2-3711<\/a>, and 2.2-3712<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMEETINGS HELD THROUGH ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION MEANS DURING DECLARED STATES OF\nEMERGENCY (\u00a7 2.2-3708.2)\n\nAny public body, or any joint meetings thereof, may meet by electronic\ncommunication means without a quorum of the public body physically assembled at\none location when the Governor has declared a state of emergency in accordance\nwith \u00a7 44-146.17 or the locality in which the public body is located has\ndeclared a local state of emergency pursuant to \u00a7 44-146.21, provided that (i)\nthe catastrophic nature of the declared emergency makes it impracticable or\nunsafe to assemble a quorum in a single location and (ii) the purpose of the\nmeeting is to provide for the continuity of operations of the public body or the\ndischarge of its lawful purposes, duties, and responsibilities. The public body\nconvening a meeting in accordance with this section shall:\n\n1. Give public notice using the best available method given the nature of the\nemergency, which notice shall be given contemporaneously with the notice\nprovided to members of the public body conducting the meeting;\n\n2. Make arrangements for public access to such meeting through electronic\ncommunication means, including videoconferencing if already used by the public\nbody;\n\n3. Provide the public with the opportunity to comment at those meetings of the\npublic body when public comment is customarily received; and\n\n4. Otherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe nature of the emergency, the fact that the meeting was held by electronic\ncommunication means, and the type of electronic communication means by which the\nmeeting was held shall be stated in the minutes.\n\t\t\tThe provisions of this section shall be applicable only for the duration of\nthe emergency declared pursuant to § 44-146.17 or 44-146.21.\n\t\t\tNothing herein shall be deemed to invalidate any action taken at a meeting\nheld by a public body using electronic communication means that occurred between\nMarch 20, 2020, and July 1, 2021, if such public body provided public notice,\npublic access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of this\nsection and §§ 2.2-3710, 2.2-3711, and 2.2-3712.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, cc. 55, 56; 2019, c. 359; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 33, 490; 2022,\nc. 597; 2024, cc. 305, 344.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}