State government; transaction of public business, prohibited website domains.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify the exact rules for enforcement until the Virginia Information Technologies Agency makes them.

State Government Website Domains

This bill stops state government groups from using website domains other than .gov, .edu, or .museum for official business and requires them to use .gov email addresses.

What This Bill Does

• Defines 'public body' as any group that does public work in Virginia but excludes institutions of higher education, state museums, state hospitals, companies performing electronic toll collection services on behalf of the Commonwealth, the Virginia Tourism Authority, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, the Virginia Retirement System, the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority, or the Commonwealth Savers Plan.
• Does not allow a public body to have an official website with a domain other than .gov, .edu, or .museum.
• Requires all email addresses given by a public body to use the .gov domain.
• Allows keeping other domains only if they redirect users to the main .gov site.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public bodies in Virginia, such as government agencies and local councils.

Terms To Know

public body

A group that does work for the state or a city, like a school board or town council.

domain

The part of an internet address that shows what kind of website it is, like .com or .gov.

Limits and Unknowns

• This law does not apply to institutions of higher education, state museums, and other specific groups listed in the bill.
• The exact rules for how this will be enforced are not clear until the Virginia Information Technologies Agency makes them.
• The new rule starts on July 1, 2029.

Official Summary Text

State government; transaction of public business; prohibited website domains.
Prohibits a public body, defined in the bill, from maintaining an official website for public use with a domain other than a .gov, .edu, or .museum domain. The bill provides that any email address that a public body provides to its employees shall utilize a .gov domain and directs the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2029.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL NO. 707
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on General Laws
on February 10, 2026)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Hayes)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 55.3 of Title 2.2 a section numbered
2.2-5514.2
, relating to state government; transaction of public business; prohibited website domains.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 55.3 of Title 2.2 a section numbered
2.2-5514.2
as follows:
§
2.2-5514.2
. Prohibited website domains.
A. For purposes of this section, "public body" means any legislative body; any court of the Commonwealth; any authority, board, bureau, commission, district, or agency of the Commonwealth; any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, including counties, cities, and towns, city councils, boards of supervisors, school boards, and planning commissions; and other organizations, corporations, or agencies in the Commonwealth supported wholly or principally by public funds. "Public body" does not include institutions of higher education, state museums, state hospitals, companies performing electronic toll collection services on behalf of the Commonwealth, the Virginia Tourism Authority, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, the Virginia Retirement System, the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority, or the Commonwealth Savers Plan.
B. No public body shall maintain an official website for public use with a domain other than a .gov, .edu, or .museum domain.
C. Any email address that a public body provides to its employees shall utilize a .gov domain.
D. A domain other than a .gov domain, including a .edu or .museum domain, may be retained solely to redirect the public to the official .gov domain.
E. The Virginia Information Technologies Agency is authorized and directed to:
1. Promulgate guidelines and policies to interpret and implement the provisions of this section, including (i) guidelines regarding a reasonable transition period for existing websites and email systems; (ii) standards for approved redirect mechanisms; and (iii) procedures for exception requests or waivers; and
2. Ensure uniform compliance across public bodies, while allowing for practical and operational flexibility.
2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2029.