{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-3710.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-3710.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-3710.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-3710.html"}],"law_id":66505,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66505,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3710","catch_line":"Transaction of public business other than by votes at meetings prohibited","history":"1987, c. 71, \u00a7 2.1-343.2; 1999, cc. 703, 726; 2000, c. 932; 2001, cc. 710, 844; 2002, c. 491.","full_text":"A\n\nUnless otherwise specifically provided by law, no vote of any kind of the membership, or any part thereof, of any public body shall be taken to authorize the transaction of any public business, other than a vote taken at a meeting conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No public body shall vote by secret or written ballot, and unless expressly provided by this chapter, no public body shall vote by telephone or other electronic communication means.B\n\nNotwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit (i) separately contacting the membership, or any part thereof, of any public body for the purpose of ascertaining a member&#8217;s position with respect to the transaction of public business, whether such contact is done in person, by telephone or by electronic communication, provided the contact is done on a basis that does not constitute a meeting as defined in this chapter or (ii) the House of Delegates or the Senate of Virginia from adopting rules relating to the casting of votes by members of standing committees. Nothing in this subsection shall operate to exclude any public record from the provisions of this chapter.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":241349,"text":"Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, no vote of any kind of the membership, or any part thereof, of any public body shall be taken to authorize the transaction of any public business, other than a vote taken at a meeting conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No public body shall vote by secret or written ballot, and unless expressly provided by this chapter, no public body shall vote by telephone or other electronic communication means.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":241350,"text":"Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit (i) separately contacting the membership, or any part thereof, of any public body for the purpose of ascertaining a member&#8217;s position with respect to the transaction of public business, whether such contact is done in person, by telephone or by electronic communication, provided the contact is done on a basis that does not constitute a meeting as defined in this chapter or (ii) the House of Delegates or the Senate of Virginia from adopting rules relating to the casting of votes by members of standing committees. Nothing in this subsection shall operate to exclude any public record from the provisions of this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"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; policy","url":"\/2.2-3700\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3700","metadata":false},{"id":62411,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3701","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-3701\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3701","metadata":false},{"id":84993,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3702","catch_line":"Notice of chapter","url":"\/2.2-3702\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3702","metadata":false},{"id":72501,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3703","catch_line":"Public bodies and records to which chapter inapplicable; voter registration and election records; access by persons incarcerated in a state, local, or federal correctional facility","url":"\/2.2-3703\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3703","metadata":false},{"id":65525,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3703.1","catch_line":"Disclosure pursuant to court order or subpoena","url":"\/2.2-3703.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3703.1","metadata":false},{"id":55816,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704","catch_line":"Public records to be open to inspection; procedure for requesting records and responding to request; charges; transfer of records for storage, etc","url":"\/2.2-3704\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704","metadata":false},{"id":59602,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.01","catch_line":"Records containing both excluded and nonexcluded information; duty to redact","url":"\/2.2-3704.01\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.01","metadata":false},{"id":85069,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.1","catch_line":"Posting of notice of rights and responsibilities by state and local public bodies; assistance by the Freedom of Information Advisory Council","url":"\/2.2-3704.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.1","metadata":false},{"id":71452,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.2","catch_line":"Public bodies to designate FOIA officer","url":"\/2.2-3704.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.2","metadata":false},{"id":84504,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3704.3","catch_line":"Training for local officials","url":"\/2.2-3704.3\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3704.3","metadata":false},{"id":86102,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3705\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705","metadata":false},{"id":72874,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.1","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; exclusions of general application to public bodies","url":"\/2.2-3705.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.1","metadata":false},{"id":67553,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.2","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to public safety","url":"\/2.2-3705.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.2","metadata":false},{"id":77912,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.3","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to administrative investigations","url":"\/2.2-3705.3\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.3","metadata":false},{"id":69909,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.4","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; educational records and certain records of educational institutions","url":"\/2.2-3705.4\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.4","metadata":false},{"id":60253,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.5","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; health and social services records","url":"\/2.2-3705.5\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.5","metadata":false},{"id":59772,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.6","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; proprietary records and trade secrets","url":"\/2.2-3705.6\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.6","metadata":false},{"id":79544,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.7","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exclusions","url":"\/2.2-3705.7\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.7","metadata":false},{"id":59878,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3705.8","catch_line":"Limitation on record exclusions","url":"\/2.2-3705.8\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3705.8","metadata":false},{"id":76628,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3706","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement and criminal records; limitations","url":"\/2.2-3706\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3706","metadata":false},{"id":78370,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3706.1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement records; criminal incident information and certain criminal investigative files; limitations","url":"\/2.2-3706.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3706.1","metadata":false},{"id":58697,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707","catch_line":"Meetings to be public; notice of meetings; recordings; minutes","url":"\/2.2-3707\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707","metadata":false},{"id":58814,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.01","catch_line":"Meetings of the General Assembly","url":"\/2.2-3707.01\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.01","metadata":false},{"id":79260,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.02","catch_line":"Meetings of Virginia Parole Board","url":"\/2.2-3707.02\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.02","metadata":false},{"id":66397,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.1","catch_line":"Posting of minutes for state boards and commissions","url":"\/2.2-3707.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.1","metadata":false},{"id":58470,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3707.2","catch_line":"Posting of minutes for local public bodies","url":"\/2.2-3707.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3707.2","metadata":false},{"id":87037,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3708\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708","metadata":false},{"id":55165,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-3708.1\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.1","metadata":false},{"id":78376,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.2","catch_line":"Meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency","url":"\/2.2-3708.2\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.2","metadata":false},{"id":54063,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3708.3","catch_line":"Meetings held through electronic communication means; situations other than declared states of emergency","url":"\/2.2-3708.3\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3708.3","metadata":false},{"id":84465,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3709","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/2.2-3709\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3709","metadata":false},{"id":66505,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3710","catch_line":"Transaction of public business other than by votes at meetings prohibited","url":"\/2.2-3710\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3710","metadata":false},{"id":72789,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3711","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Closed meetings authorized for certain limited purposes","url":"\/2.2-3711\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3711","metadata":false},{"id":54622,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3712","catch_line":"Closed meetings procedures; certification of proceedings","url":"\/2.2-3712\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3712","metadata":false},{"id":69183,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3713","catch_line":"Proceedings for enforcement of chapter","url":"\/2.2-3713\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3713","metadata":false},{"id":73159,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3714","catch_line":"Violations and penalties","url":"\/2.2-3714\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3714","metadata":false},{"id":71321,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3715","catch_line":"Effect of advisory opinions from the Freedom of Information Advisory Council on liability for willful and knowing violations","url":"\/2.2-3715\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3715","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84465,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3709","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/2.2-3709\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3709","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72789,"structure_id":12976,"section_number":"2.2-3711","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Closed meetings authorized for certain limited purposes","url":"\/2.2-3711\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3711","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-3710\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 71 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. Unfortunately, the 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1999, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0703\">703<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0726\">726<\/a>; in 2000, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0932\">932<\/a>; in 2001, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0710\">710<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0844\">844<\/a>; in 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0491\">491<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":78376,"section_number":"2.2-3708.2","catch_line":"Meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3708.2\/"},{"id":73159,"section_number":"2.2-3714","catch_line":"Violations and penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3714\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":176573,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66505,"identifier":"2.2-3710","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3710","url":"\/2.2-3710\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-3710\/","token":"2.2\/II\/B\/37\/2.2-3710","dublin_core":{"Title":"Transaction of public business other than by votes at meetings prohibited","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-3710","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Unless otherwise specifically provided by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, no vote of any kind of the membership, or any part thereof, of any <span class=\"dictionary\">public body<\/span> shall be taken to authorize the transaction of any <span class=\"dictionary\">public business<\/span>, other than a vote taken at a <span class=\"dictionary\">meeting<\/span> conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No <span class=\"dictionary\">public body<\/span> shall vote by secret or written ballot, and unless expressly provided by this chapter, no <span class=\"dictionary\">public body<\/span> shall vote by telephone or other <span class=\"dictionary\">electronic communication<\/span> means. <a id=\"paragraph-241349\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/2.2-3710\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit (i) separately contacting the membership, or any part thereof, of any <span class=\"dictionary\">public body<\/span> for the purpose of ascertaining a member&#8217;s position with respect to the transaction of <span class=\"dictionary\">public business<\/span>, whether such contact is done in person, by telephone or by <span class=\"dictionary\">electronic communication<\/span>, provided the contact is done on a basis that does not constitute a <span class=\"dictionary\">meeting<\/span> as defined in this chapter or (ii) the House of Delegates or the Senate of Virginia from adopting rules relating to the casting of votes by members of standing committees. Nothing in this subsection shall operate to exclude any public record from the provisions of this chapter. <a id=\"paragraph-241350\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/2.2-3710\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTRANSACTION OF PUBLIC BUSINESS OTHER THAN BY VOTES AT MEETINGS PROHIBITED (\u00a7\n2.2-3710)\n\nA. Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, no vote of any kind of the\nmembership, or any part thereof, of any public body shall be taken to authorize\nthe transaction of any public business, other than a vote taken at a meeting\nconducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No public body\nshall vote by secret or written ballot, and unless expressly provided by this\nchapter, no public body shall vote by telephone or other electronic\ncommunication means.\n\nB. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to\nprohibit (i) separately contacting the membership, or any part thereof, of any\npublic body for the purpose of ascertaining a member&#8217;s position with\nrespect to the transaction of public business, whether such contact is done in\nperson, by telephone or by electronic communication, provided the contact is\ndone on a basis that does not constitute a meeting as defined in this chapter or\n(ii) the House of Delegates or the Senate of Virginia from adopting rules\nrelating to the casting of votes by members of standing committees. Nothing in\nthis subsection shall operate to exclude any public record from the provisions\nof this chapter.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 71, \u00a7 2.1-343.2; 1999, cc. 703, 726; 2000, c. 932; 2001, cc.\n710, 844; 2002, c. 491.","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}}