Quick Information | Contacts | Form Letters | Publications

Virginia Coalition for Open Government

(A member of NFOIC)

Box 2576
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Phone 540.353.8264
Twitter http://twitter.com/opengovva
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Coalition-for-Open-Government/118024836400
Contact: Megan Rhyne, Executive Director
Email mrhyne@opengovva.org
http://www.opengovva.org/

QUICK FOI INFORMATION

Open Meetings Law Va. Code Secs. 2.2-3700 et seq
Closed: Terrorism activities precautions; some personnel matters, attorney consultations, real estate matters, student disciplinary matters, etc.

Open Records Law Va. Code Secs. 2.2-3700 et seq
Exempt: Some criminal investigations; some police reports; tax returns; medical records; personnel matters; real estate; attorney client privilege exemptions; and working papers.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA

2006-2007 Virginia Freedom of Information Act

Citizens' FOI Guide

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CONTACTS

• Office of the Attorney General
• 900 East Main Street
• Richmond, VA 23219
• Phone (804) 786-2071
• http://www.oag.state.va.us
• E-mail mail@oag.state.va.us

• Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression
• 400 Peter Jefferson Place
• Charlottesville, VA 22911
• Phone (434) 295-4784
• http://www.tjcenter.org

• Virginia FOI Advisory Council
• General Assembly Building, 2nd Floor
• 910 Capitol Street
• Richmond, VA 23219
• Phone Toll-Free (866) 448-4100; (804) 225-3056
• Fax (804) 371-8705
• http://dls.state.va.us/foiacouncil.htm
• E-mail foiacouncil@leg.state.va.us

• Virginia State Bar
• Suite 1500, Ross Building
• 707 E. Main St.
• Richmond, VA 23219
• Phone (804) 775-0500
• Fax (804) 775-0501
• TDD (804) 775-0502
• http://www.vsb.org/

Virginia State General Assembly
The texts of bills from the Virginia legislature are readily available to the public at this site. You can check bills and resolutions or read details on members.
http://legis.state.va.us/
http://legis.state.va.us/help/who_to_contact.html includes contact information.

• Virginia Press Association
• 11529 Nuckols Road
• Glen Allen, VA 23059
• Phone (804) 521-7570
• http://www.vpa.net/

• State Sunshine Chair
• Dick Hammerstrom
• The Free Lance-Star
• Phone (540) 374-5420
• E-\mail rhammer@freelancestar.com

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FORM LETTERS

• The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
• 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
• Arlington, Virginia 22209
• Phone (800) 336-4243 or (703) 807-2100
• E-mail rcfp@rcfp.org
• FOI Letter Generator

• Student Press Law Center
• 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
• Arlington, Virginia 22209
• Phone (703) 807-1904
• E-mail splc@splc.org
• Request Letter Generator

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NEWSLETTERS

Open Government Newsletter—The newsletter is published online by the Virginia Coalition for Open Government

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PUBLICATIONS

Legal Language; A Glossary for the News Media
Richmond, VA: Richmond Newspapers, 1992, 20 pages
The pamphlet is a project of the Bar-News Media Relations Committee of the Virginia State Bar and was compiled to assist the news media in accurate reporting. It gives a list of the most frequently used legal terms.
Format: Pamphlet
Price: $1
Order from:
The Virginia State Bar
Suite 1500, Ross Building
707 E. Main St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone (804)775-0500

Local Government Officials' Guide
Charlottesville, VA: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service6, 2006.
An excellent analysis of Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, written from the perspective of a government official.
Price: $5; $4 for orders of five or more.
Order from:
Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA. 22903.

Mass Communication Law in Virginia
Published by W. Wat Hopkins, New Forums Press, Stillwater OK, 1999, 118 pages
Format: One-volume reference manual. 8 in.
Price: $14.95 plus $1.50 shipping
Order from:
First Amendment Foundation
New Forums Press
P.O. Box 876
Stillwater, OK 74076
Phone (405)372-6158

Public Information Pamphlets
Compiled by the Virginia State Bar
The Virginia State Bar publishes pamphlets on law-related issues for Virginia’s citizens. If you would like to order printed copies of these pamphlets, please download the Publications Order Form* (pdf) and fax or mail with payment (when applicable) to the Virginia State Bar at (804) 775-0582.
Format: PDF

Reporter's Handbook on the Virginia Freedom of Information Act
Richmond, VA: Virginia Press Association, 2006. 104 pages
This pocket-size pamphlet includes the text of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, annotated with court decisions and references to law review articles. The pamphlet also includes state constitutional provisions, a sample objection to closure of proceedings, and information about the Virginia Freedom of Information Hotline. (See http://www.vpa.net/FOIA/index.htm for more information.)
Format: Pamphlet, 4 by 6 1/2 in. 6 in.
Price: $1.50
Order from:
Virginia Press Association
P.O. Box C-32015
Richmond, VA 23261-2015
Phone (804) 550-2361

Open Government Guide from the
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

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