Transcript Highlights:

• not granting the information.
• localities not granting the information.
• Localities, not granting the information. Got it.
• But it dealt with the Government Information Act, the information of the Government Data Act.
• information of the Government Data Act.

Keywords: Freedom of Information Advisory Council, 976, house, all

Summary: The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council met in May 2026, welcomed new member Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams, and noted that Chair Marcus Simon could not succeed himself, so formal leadership elections would be deferred until a later meeting. Staff then gave a legislative update on 15 FOIA-related bills that had passed, including council-recommended measures on minors’ contact information in state programs and posting proposed agendas online, along with other changes involving lottery winners, utility account numbers, suicide fatality review teams, hospital workplace violence reporting, marijuana regulation, election records, law-enforcement oversight bodies, and a university name change. Members also discussed concerns about the new agenda-posting bill and the need to watch how it affects closed sessions and late-added agenda items. The council heard presentations on several bills referred to it. Delegate Wachsmann explained HB 313, which would expand FOIA access for nonresidents who own real property in Virginia; members raised concerns about drafting and scope, and the bill was referred to the records subcommittee. Delegate Cohen’s HB 463, which would redefine “meeting” and broaden remote participation rules, drew mixed reactions, with some members opposing it as too permissive and others suggesting narrower revisions; it was referred to the meetings subcommittee. The council also discussed HB 159 and HB 160, two bills aimed at speeding FOIA enforcement and clarifying remedies when public bodies fail to comply; after hearing from the Attorney General’s office and Boyd-Graves Conference representatives, members agreed these issues warranted a new remedies subcommittee. Under continued business, staff reported on a 50-state survey of the term “personal information,” and members asked for additional research on FOIA fees and alternative records-access models, including how other states and the federal government handle reading rooms and electronic access. The council also heard from Fairfax County about AI-generated FOIA requests, with concerns that AI can produce overly broad, adversarial, or legally confused requests that increase burdens and disputes; members suggested updating requester guidance and training materials. Finally, the council received a judicial update on four recent cases with limited FOIA implications, took public comment on out-of-state requesters and fee issues, and agreed to keep existing subcommittees, add a remedies subcommittee, and schedule subcommittee work before the next quarterly meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It collects information for customer demographics, financial information, utility components, and even
• There was no information to inform them or to give them the analysis, the critical analysis.
• It is resource information system.
• There was no information to inform<00:38:26.560> them<00:38:27.359> or<00:38:27.599>
• :38:29.760> critical<00:38:30.160> analysis There was no information to inform them or

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Discussion of the KentuckyWired Network 00:00:55 Discussion of the Water Resource Information System 00:35.40 Discussion of Geographic Information Systems 00:52:30 Discussion of Committee Report to LRC 01:15:05, 958, all

Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a presentation from Leadcore representatives Jimmy Bird, Mike Murray, and Rebecca Moss on the Kentucky Wired network. Leadcore described its role as the design-builder and service provider under the KCNA contract, saying the network was built with roughly 13,200 feet of fiber, mostly aerial, and that the use of non-armored cable was a Kentucky-side decision made to reduce cost. They also said aerial construction and non-armored cable increase maintenance challenges, including storm damage and squirrel-related damage, and reported FY25 service activity of 104 break-fix events, 30 maintenance replacements, 64 storm-damage events, and nearly 13,000 feet of fiber replaced to date. Committee members questioned whether the original project anticipated this level of replacement and whether any forecast existed for maintenance under non-armored cable. Leadcore said it did not do a formal forecast and could not say whether the replacement rate was above or below norms, though it acknowledged the decision not to use armored cable came from the Kentucky side of the contract. Members also asked about whether replacements caused network degradation; Leadcore said it tries to replace cable at existing splice points to avoid degradation and, where needed, uses armored cable for replacement sections going forward. The committee then explored Leadcore’s relationship with Excel and KCNA. Leadcore said it has a service-level agreement for KCNA-related fibers but not for dark fibers used by Excel, and that Kentucky Wired fibers get priority on service requests. It said outages are reported through a 1-800 number and that it was not aware of any access problems to the huts. On the tech refresh, Leadcore said its understanding is that maintaining the network is its responsibility, but the technology refresh is not; it said only a very limited amount of refresh has occurred and that this did not match the original contract intent. Leadcore also said it had not been asked to defer maintenance. The chair closed by saying the testimony would inform a committee report and that he intended to recommend clawing back or withholding some previously authorized Kentucky Wired and refresh funding until an audit is complete, with the committee to vote on a report later.

Bills: HB 10, HB 12, HB 675

Keywords: public information, government transparency, civil penalty, recordkeeping, election reports

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee information is available on the Legislature's website.
• While the proponents have informed us that the rebate administration fee is not part of the rebate definition
• And it gives me all of this information on the air quality index, PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide
• So I'm just wondering, like, isn't that information already readily available on somebody's phone?
• Yes, we do think that this information is easily accessible and available on people's phones, watches

Bills: AB93, AB204, AB414, AB504, AB598

Keywords: public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, medical debt, collection agency, healthcare, consumer protection, financial assistance, occupational safety, air quality, greenhouse gases, employee monitoring, safety program, hemp, hemp products, cannabidiol, CBD, cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• Although current law requires candidates to state such information and affirm it in writing, courts have
• The release of the protected information could be used by fraudulent contractors, predatory lenders,
• The release of the protected information could be used by fraudulent contractors, predatory lenders,
• Next, we're taking up tab 15, SB 7004 on OGSR Conviction Integrity Unit Reinvestigation Information by
• All CIRs report that they have received no complaints from people seeking information about the public

Bills: S0062, S0156, S0168, S0288, S0290, S0292, S0296, S0298, S0364, S0386, S0624, S7004, S7006, S7008, S7012, S7014, S7016

Keywords: candidate qualification, political party, voter registration, election law, Florida Statutes, rural electric cooperatives, energy production, Florida law, energy tariffs, regulation, agriculture, landscape equipment, gasoline-powered, ecologically significant parcels, local government regulations, public records, appellate courts, information exemption, safety, personal identifying information

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and considered a long agenda of bills, many of which were reported favorably. Early action included CS for SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would create an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation qualification requirements, and CS for SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and add mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer. SB 156 drew strong support from the City of Daytona Beach and law enforcement groups, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed parts of the bill, arguing it removed useful limits on force and imposed overly rigid sentencing. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills, including measures extending exemptions for social media platform investigations, small business loan program records, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigatory records, emergency shelter recipient information, Department of Military Affairs records, conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information, Public Service Commission records and meetings, and Florida Gaming Control Commission records and meetings. The committee also advanced CS for SB 624, allowing batterers’ intervention programs to offer optional faith-based activities, with supporters saying faith-based counseling can help reduce domestic violence and no participant would be required to take part. Other approved measures included HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands, which limits certain liability claims if notice and survey requirements are met; CS for SB 48 on housing, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units and was amended to remove hearing and variance requirements and clarify local ordinance obligations; SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, described as a negotiated glitch bill preserving co-op authority over generation and power purchases; and CS for SB 364 on public accountancy, which creates additional CPA licensure pathways and mobility provisions. The committee also approved SB 292 creating a public records exemption for appellate court clerks and their families, despite some opposition votes. Later, the committee passed CS for SB 296 and CS for SB 298, which expand protections for victims of domestic violence and dating violence by creating a feasibility study for a secure web-based 911 alert platform and extending address confidentiality and public records protections to dating violence, stalking, and aggravated stalking victims. SB 386 on farm equipment, described as a “lemon law” for tractors and similar equipment, also passed. Additional open-government bills were approved for emergency shelter recipients, military affairs records, conviction integrity unit materials, PSC records, and gaming commission records. SB 168 on public nuisances was reported favorably as well. One bill, CS for CS for SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, was temporarily postponed after extensive stakeholder testimony; the chair allowed public comment but no vote was taken, and the sponsor indicated ongoing discussions and possible changes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded several individual votes for the record, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What information is on a driver's license?
• Does you all keep records on all of this information?
• So these personal information means information that identifies an individual, including an individual's
• Medical or disability information. No, it depends.
• So would you disclose this information to law enforcement?

Bills: SB20, SB111, SB211, SB218, SB14

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• They are here to help us make informed decisions.
• money, how can they make an informed vote?
• , including medical information.
• I don't know if we have that information.
• Who would track that information?

Bills: HB150, HB869, HB876, HB 1043, HB1494, HB1522, HB150

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• the groups that Hawaii Worker Center and other community organizations they presentations and informational
• the groups that Hawaii Worker Center and other community organizations, they presentations and informational
• They presentations and informational materials on laws enforced by us uh, the wage and hour laws, the
• They presentations and informational materials on laws enforced by us uh, the wage and hour laws, the
• statutorily, DAGS’s responsibilities focus on financial management, risk management, facilities, and information

Bills: SB2198, SB2140, SB3055, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2761

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue

Bills: HB65, HB67, HB73, HB205, HB225, HB339, HB550

Keywords: sexual harassment, public employees, training requirements, mandatory education, elected officials, public records, personal information, protected individuals, ethics, transparency, public meetings, voting, electronic voting machine, government accountability, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• filing a property transaction document... a photo ID and that the county clerk's office logged that information

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• who answered the call first, stayed calm, showed empathy to a caller in crisis, gathered crucial information
• number three, SPB 7024 by Governmental Oversight and Accountability relating to OGSR cybersecurity, information
• , and operational technology information.
• bill seeks to repeal the current public records and public meeting exemption from cybersecurity information

Bills: S0774, S7028, S7024, S7026

Keywords: mental health, first responders, employment benefits, 911 telecommunicators, nervous injuries, retirement, elected officials, Deferred Retirement Option Program, DROP, cost-of-living adjustment, trade secret, public records exemption, public meetings exemption, open government, sunset review, agency confidentiality, proprietary business information, proprietary confidential business information, confidential records, Florida public records law

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first heard Senate Bill 774, which would extend workers’ compensation medical benefits for employment-related mental or nervous injuries to 911 public safety telecommunicators, even without a physical injury. The sponsor and several dispatchers, a clinician, and communications directors testified in support, describing repeated exposure to traumatic calls, chronic understaffing, and the need for mental health treatment and retention support. Senator DiCeglie and Chair Mayfield praised dispatchers’ work, and the bill was reported favorably by committee vote, with Senator McClain later recorded as voting yes on the bill. The committee then took up SPB 7028, a retirement bill that sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2026, leaves the 3% employee contribution unchanged, allows certain elected officers to receive a DROP payout under specified conditions, and provides a 1.5% alternative cost-of-living adjustment for eligible special risk retirees. Firefighters, police, sheriffs, and chiefs’ groups spoke in support, emphasizing recruitment and retention. The committee voted to submit the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7024 and SPB 7026, both open-government-related bills. SPB 7024 would repeal the current public records and public meeting exemption for cybersecurity information and consolidate agency-specific cybersecurity exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. SPB 7026 would repeal the current public records exemption for trade secrets held by an agency and similarly consolidate specific trade secret exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. Neither bill drew testimony or debate, and both were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, training must be informed by professionals with expertise in child maltreatment.
• Second, training must be informed by professionals with expertise in child maltreatment.
• Second, training must be informed by professionals with expertise in child maltreatment.
• Second, training must be informed by professionals with expertise in child maltreatment.
• Second, training must be informed by professionals with expertise in child maltreatment.

Bills: HF1346, HF1169, HF1276

Keywords: mandatory reporting, training requirements, child maltreatment, abuse detection, local welfare agency, child protection, child welfare, paperwork reduction, social services information system, SSIS, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, foster care, children in placement, county social services, Tribal governments, private child placing agencies, case management, administrative burden, information technology, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not an onerous amount of new information, but I think what will happen is it's going to get mandatory
• It is not an onerous amount of new information, but I think what will happen is it's going to get mandatory
• It's not an onerous amount of new information, but I think what will happen is it's going to get mandatory
• Second, training must be informed by professionals with expertise in child maltreatment.
• I urge your support to ensure mandated reporters receive comprehensive, expert-informed training to help

Bills: HF1346, HF1169, HF1276

Keywords: mandatory reporting, training requirements, child maltreatment, abuse detection, local welfare agency, child protection, child welfare, paperwork reduction, social services information system, SSIS, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, foster care, children in placement, county social services, Tribal governments, private child placing agencies, case management, administrative burden, information technology, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we are going to stand in an informal recess at the moment waiting for some of our other members
• They must be recorded and transcribed and not disclosed until the information is no longer exempt or
• We have three more bills, and we're waiting on the members to come, so we'll just stay in an informal
• The reinvestigation information... ...attorney's office for purposes of reviewing plausible claims of
• We're going to sit in informal recess again for a few minutes.

Bills: S7000, S7002, S7004, S7006, S7008, S7012, S7014, S7016, S0350

Keywords: public records exemption, open government sunset review, OGSR, emergency shelter, public emergency shelter, storm shelter, catastrophic event, evacuees, disaster response, hurricane, evacuation, privacy, confidential records, address confidentiality, telephone number, Florida Statutes section 252.385, agency records, public records law, Open Government Sunset Review Act, Florida Public Service Commission

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first postponed SB 350 for a future meeting. The committee then considered a series of Open Government Sunset Review bills preserving or extending public records and public meeting exemptions. SB 7000, relating to emergency shelter recipients’ address and phone information, and SB 7002, relating to Department of Military Affairs records in Department of Defense systems, were both amended to set a new sunset date of October 2, 2031 and reported favorably. SB 7012, concerning Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records, was amended to conform its effective date with the House companion and also reported favorably. The committee next heard SB 7006, which preserves exemptions for certain Florida Public Service Commission hearing portions involving confidential proprietary utility information, and SB 7008, which preserves similar exemptions for the Florida Gaming Control Commission; both were reported favorably without amendment. SB 7004, concerning conviction integrity unit investigation information, was also reported favorably after testimony that state attorney conviction integrity units support keeping the exemption in place beyond its current repeal date. Later, the committee took up SB 7014, presented by Senator Arrington on behalf of Senator Leitz, and adopted a committee substitute extending to October 2, 2031 two exemptions tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations of social media platforms. The committee also approved SB 7016, which preserves the exemption for certain financial information used by economic development agencies to administer small business loan programs. At the end of the meeting, members recorded affirmative votes on several bills and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've issued money transmitters for records and we've asked them to provide very specific information
• Like if it's 10,000 or more, they have to get other information and stuff like that.

Bills: HB297, HB587

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission, information technology, auditors, financial institutions, cybersecurity, certifications, state regulations, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• harm to persons or their families constitutes a criminal offense and clarifies that posting such information

Bills: HB 2407, HB 3425

Keywords: sex offender registration, criminal penalties, law enforcement, criminal justice, public safety, public servant, address disclosure, retrieval of information, electronic communication, criminal offense, retaliation, safety concerns

Bills: SB 483, SB 522, SB 783, SB 1239, SB 1254, SB 1255, SB 1259, SB 1341, SB 1664, SB 1762, SB 1856, SB 1877, SB 1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Bills: SB 483, SB 522, SB 783, SB 1239, SB 1254, SB 1255, SB 1259, SB 1341, SB 1664, SB 1762, SB 1856, SB 1877, SB 1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• in response to a public information request.
• That's where she got that information.
• for the information.
• All right, the confidential information section. 552.403 requires that the information be labeled as
• It's through the provision of this type of information that policymakers can encourage informed voting

Bills: HB565, HB3743, HB4310, HB5083, HB5129, HB5195, HB5331, HB5469, SB21, HB3185, SB 21

Keywords: constitutional amendment, fiscal impact, state budget, ballot measure, transparency in voting, management-to-staff ratio, state agencies, employee regulations, government efficiency, workforce management, public information, governing board, transparency, confidentiality, access rights, privacy, identifying information, state agency, consent, occupational license

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:14.480> about don't have a lot of information about don't have a lot of information
• At one time I was a CD chair, and I became informed of the intricacies of the federal race versus, you
• <01:12:17.280> I<01:12:17.480> became<01:12:18.640> uh<01:12:18.720> informed
• <01:12:20.000> of<01:12:20.520> the And I I became uh informed of the And I I became
• uh informed of the intricacies<01:12:21.680> of<01:12:22.360> the<01:12:22.480> federal

Bills: HF2614, HF3587, HF3589, HF3588

Keywords: homeowners associations, local government, building permits, housing policy, residential development, voter access, polling place, elections, ballot, unexpected needs, election judge, public information, political parties, transparency, 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 2614, a bill aimed at preventing local governments from requiring or effectively mandating homeowners associations (HOAs) as a condition of residential development approval. The committee first approved the February 25 minutes, then adopted the DE1 amendment to HF 2614 before hearing the bill. The authors said the measure is a bipartisan piece of a larger HOA reform effort and that the language was negotiated with the League of Minnesota Cities and other stakeholders; they emphasized that developers could still choose to create HOAs, but cities and counties could not require them. Testimony in support came from Housing First Minnesota and the Minnesota Homeownership Center. Supporters argued that unnecessary HOAs raise housing costs, reduce affordability, and are often used to shift public infrastructure costs onto homeowners. They said HOAs remain appropriate for shared-wall housing, shared amenities, and other situations where common property is truly needed, but should not be imposed for single-family developments or minor features. Several members shared examples of HOA overreach and asked for clarification on how the bill would work, including whether developers could still request neighborhood signs or other features; staff and the authors said that would still be possible if the developer requested it rather than the local government requiring it. A significant portion of the discussion focused on stormwater ponds and other infrastructure. One member said the bill should not prevent cities from requiring stormwater facilities because maintenance costs and water-quality responsibilities can be substantial and should not be shifted to all taxpayers. The authors responded that the amendment language was intended to balance concerns about unnecessary HOA mandates with the need to address maintenance, noting that some maintenance responsibilities could remain with cities or be handled through developer agreements. A member requested a roll call on the bill, but the transcript does not include a final vote or disposition beyond the discussion and amendment adoption.