CHAPTER 275
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-1303.1, relating to baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; livestreaming, recording, and archiving of boards of visitors meetings; closed sessions; guidelines.
[H 2452]
Approved March 21, 2025
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 23.1-1303.1 as follows:
23.1-1303.1. Livestreaming, recording, and archiving of boards of visitors meetings; closed sessions; guidelines.
A. Each baccalaureate public institution of higher education shall:
1. Provide for the livestreaming of all meetings of its board of visitors, including full board meetings, committee meetings, and subcommittee meetings, in a manner that is accessible to the public in real time; and
2. Ensure that recordings of such meetings (i) are made, archived, and made available to the public within five business days following the conclusion of the meeting; (ii) remain accessible on the institution's official website for no less than five years from the date of the meeting; and (iii) include closed captioning for accessibility and are presented in a format compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.).
B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the requirements for closed sessions as set forth in 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712.
C. The Council shall develop and provide to each baccalaureate public institution of higher education guidelines to assist such institutions with complying with the provisions of this section, including recommendations for technology standards and accessibility features.
D. The board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education shall include a report on the institution's compliance with the provisions of this section in its annual report submitted pursuant to subdivision B 13 of 23.1-1303.
2. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly.
3. That the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in consultation with the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council and a representative from the Library of Virginia, shall work with the public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and with technology experts to develop minimal uniform standards, to the extent practicable, for (i) providing the public with real-time access to the meetings of governing boards of public institutions of higher education and the meetings of committees of such boards, (ii) archiving the recordings of such meetings, and (iii) taking minutes at such meetings. Any such minimal uniform standards shall be implemented by each public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth no later than July 1, 2026, and any statutory or policy changes necessary to effectuate such implementation shall be recommended to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than November 15, 2025.