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.