An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exclusions to application of chapter; public utility account numbers.
HB346 amends Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemption statute, § 2.2-3705.1, to add public utility account numbers to the list of information that may be withheld from mandatory disclosure. The bill is framed as a narrow records-access measure rather than a broad FOIA overhaul, and it operates by expanding the categories of information that public bodies may redact or exclude from public records released under FOIA.
In practical terms, the bill protects utility account numbers from public release when they appear in records held by public bodies. This change affects state and local agencies, public utilities or utility-related records in government files, and members of the public seeking access to those records. The rest of § 2.2-3705.1 remains intact, including existing exemptions for personnel records, attorney-client communications, litigation work product, tests and examinations, closed-meeting records, proprietary software, and real property appraisals.
The general sentiment around the bill appears to be neutral to supportive, based on its enactment without recorded opposition in the provided materials. Because there are no committee transcripts or vote details included, there is no evidence of significant controversy in the available record. The bill’s limited scope suggests it was treated as a technical or privacy-focused FOIA amendment.
The main point of contention, insofar as one can be inferred from the subject matter, would be the balance between transparency in government records and privacy or security concerns tied to utility account information. Supporters would likely view the exemption as a way to reduce the risk of misuse of account numbers, while critics of FOIA exemptions generally may worry about incremental reductions in public access. No specific opposing arguments or named stakeholders are provided in the record.
HB346 amends § 2.2-3705.1 of the Code of Virginia, which governs exclusions from mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill adds public utility account numbers to the list of records that public bodies may withhold from disclosure, thereby narrowing public access to that specific category of information. It does not alter the broader structure of FOIA, but it does expand the statutory exemptions available to custodians of public records.
The available record suggests a generally favorable or noncontroversial reception. The bill was enacted as Chapter 115, and there are no committee transcripts, recorded votes, or other materials indicating organized opposition or extended debate. Its narrow focus on protecting utility account numbers points to a technical privacy-oriented amendment that likely drew little public conflict in the materials provided.
The likely tension in HB346 is between FOIA transparency and privacy/security concerns. On one side, advocates for open government may be wary of adding any new exemption because it reduces the amount of information available to the public. On the other side, supporters of the bill would argue that utility account numbers are sensitive identifiers that should not be broadly disclosed and could be misused if released. No specific legislators, agencies, utilities, or advocacy groups are identified in the provided record as taking opposing positions.