FOIA Advisor

FOIA News: Virginia lawmaker wants requests to be submitted by certified mail

FOIA News (2015-2023)Allan BlutsteinComment

Because an email went to spam, a lawmaker wants all FOIA requests made by certified mail

By Patrick Wilson, Richmond Times, Jan. 12, 2022

A citizen emailed a FOIA request to a state lawmaker and it went into spam. That prompted the lawmaker to file a bill that would require all public records requests in Virginia to be made by certified mail.

Open government advocates said the bill by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, would create barriers to citizens who want to make FOIA requests, would hinder government agencies like Fairfax County or Virginia State Police who handle FOIA requests digitally, and would be "horrendous" for reporters.

Read more here.