Who we are and what we do
The Legal and Legislative Services (LLS) team is VITA’s in-house legal and policy team.
LLS is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies to advance VITA’s legislative initiatives, record keeping and responding to inquiries for public records. LLS serves as the primary conduit of information for proposed legislation between the agency and legislators, committee staff and legislative staff.
Our mission is to empower, enhance and facilitate VITA’s performance of its functions and responsibilities, through internal advice, support and compliance, as well as external representation and advocacy.
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
FOIA provides access to public records and public meetings. For more information visit our FOIA section at Records Request (FOIA).
Legislative Summary
2021
- SB1458 – Transferring the Identity Management Standards Advisory Council from the Secretary of Administration and VITA to the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority.
2020
- HJ64 – Requiring VITA to study and report on the Commonwealth's susceptibility, preparedness, and ability to respond to ransomware attacks, including: (i) assess the Commonwealth's susceptibility to ransomware attacks at the state and local levels of government; (ii) develop guidelines and best practices to prevent ransomware attacks; (iii) evaluate current data encryption and backup strategies; (iv) evaluate the availability of tools to monitor unusual access requests, viruses, and network traffic; (v) develop guidance for state agencies and localities on responding in the event of a ransomware attack; (vi) develop a coordinated law-enforcement response strategy that utilizes forensic investigative techniques to identify the source of ransomware attacks; and (vii) provide recommendations on legislative or regulatory changes to better protect state and local government entities from ransomware.
- HB852 – Requiring VITA to develop and annually update a curriculum and materials for training all state employees in information security awareness and in proper procedures for detecting, assessing, reporting, and addressing information security threats. And requiring the Commonwealth's executive, legislative, and judicial branches and independent agencies to provide annual information security training for each of its employees in accordance with the VITA-developed curriculum and materials.
- HB1003 – Transferring support and administration of the 9-1-1 Services Board and Virginia Geographic Information Network Advisory Board from the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Associated budget amendments transferred related staff.
2019
- SB1233 – Prohibiting public bodies from using hardware, software, or services that have been prohibited by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for use on federal systems, and requiring the CIO to promptly notify all public bodies of such prohibited hardware, software, and services.
- HB1668 – Requiring VITA (as well as DGS and OAG) to review procurement solicitations and contracts for any contract with a state public body that meets the definition of high-risk contract provided in the bill, and to develop guidelines for state agencies to use when assigning staff to administer high-risk contracts.