Limits Fines for Public Officials' Records Violations
Virginia · HB160 · Introduced Jan 6, 2026
Why it matters
Officials who relied in good faith on legal advice or published opinions could avoid personal fines. Requesters would need to prove a knowing violation to collect penalties.
What it does
- Keeps fines of $500 to $2,000 for officials who knowingly break open-records rules, $2,000 to $5,000 for repeat violations
- Allows fines up to $100 per record for officials who alter or destroy records to avoid a request
- Lets courts consider good-faith reliance on Attorney General opinions, court cases, or public body counsel advice
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would allow fines for willful records violations only against officials sued personally. Courts would weigh good-faith reliance on Attorney General opinions, court rulings, council advice, and counsel advice.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Local government groups would likely say officials need protection when they follow legal advice in good faith. They argue that fear of personal fines could discourage public service.
💬 The case against
Open government advocates would likely say the change weakens penalties for hiding public records. They may argue that officials could cite advice to avoid accountability.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
News
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