The purpose of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a State law, is to ensure that citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and representatives of the media have “ready access to records in the custody of public officials and free entry to meetings of public bodies wherein the business of the people is being transacted.” This means that most meetings and official records are subject to public disclosure except for:
- Scholastic records and personnel records containing information concerning identifiable individuals.
- Writings protected by the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine.
- Tests and examinations (subject to certain qualifications).
- Vendor proprietary information software.
- Information concerning certain contractual or land-related negotiations.
- Information about building security or security-related systems.
There are many exceptions listed in the State Code.