Virginia HB 145: Fantasy contests; regulation and taxation, civil penalty, repeals Fantasy Contests Act.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100034D

HOUSE BILL NO. 145

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 5, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3705.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 37.2-314.2, 59.1-556 through 59.1-559, 59.1-561, 59.1-562, 59.1-563, 59.1-565, 59.1-566, and 59.1-567 of the Code of Virginia, to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 11 a section numbered 11-16.3 and by adding a section numbered 59.1-563.1, and to repeal § 59.1-564 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Fantasy Contests Act; regulation and taxation.

—————

Patron—Krizek

—————

Referred to Committee on General Laws

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 2.2-3705.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 37.2-314.2, 59.1-556 through 59.1-559, 59.1-561, 59.1-562, 59.1-563, 59.1-565, 59.1-566, and 59.1-567 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 11 a section numbered 11-16.3 and by adding a section numbered 59.1-563.1 as follows:

§ 2.2-3705.3. (Effective until July 1, 2026) Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to administrative investigations.

The following information contained in a public record is excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of this chapter but may be disclosed by the custodian in his discretion, except where such disclosure is prohibited by law. Redaction of information excluded under this section from a public record shall be conducted in accordance with § 2.2-3704.01.

1. Information relating to investigations of applicants for licenses and permits, and of all licensees and permittees, made by or submitted to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, the Virginia Lottery pursuant to Chapter 40 (§ 58.1-4000 et seq.) and Chapter 41 (§ 58.1-4100 et seq.) of Title 58.1, the Virginia Racing Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services relating to investigations and applications pursuant to Article 1.1:1 (§ 18.2-340.15 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 and the Fantasy Contests Act (§ 59.1-556 et seq.), or the Private Security Services Unit of the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

2. Records of active investigations being conducted by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority or by the Department of Health Professions or any health regulatory board in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 54.1-108.

3. Investigator notes, and other correspondence and information, furnished in confidence with respect to an active investigation of individual employment discrimination complaints made to the Department of Human Resource Management, to such personnel of any local public body, including local school boards, as are responsible for conducting such investigations in confidence, or to any public institution of higher education. However, nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the disclosure of information taken from inactive reports in a form that does not reveal the identity of charging parties, persons supplying the information, or other individuals involved in the investigation.

4. Records of active investigations being conducted by the Department of Medical Assistance Services pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 32.1-323 et seq.) of Title 32.1.

5. Investigative notes and other correspondence and information furnished in confidence with respect to an investigation or conciliation process involving an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice under the Virginia Human Rights Act (§ 2.2-3900 et seq.) or under any local ordinance adopted in accordance with the authority specified in § 2.2-524, or adopted pursuant to § 15.2-965, or adopted prior to July 1, 1987, in accordance with applicable law, relating to local human rights or human relations commissions. However, nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the distribution of information taken from inactive reports in a form that does not reveal the identity of the parties involved or other persons supplying information.

6. Information relating to studies and investigations by the Virginia Lottery of (i) lottery agents, (ii) lottery vendors, (iii) lottery crimes under §§ 58.1-4014 through 58.1-4018, (iv) defects in the law or regulations that cause abuses in the administration and operation of the lottery and any evasions of such provisions, or (v) the use of the lottery as a subterfuge for organized crime and illegal gambling where such information has not been publicly released, published or copyrighted. All studies and investigations referred to under clauses (iii), (iv), and (v) shall be open to inspection and copying upon completion of the study or investigation.

7. Investigative notes, correspondence and information furnished in confidence, and records otherwise exempted by this chapter or any Virginia statute, provided to or produced by or for (i) the Auditor of Public Accounts; (ii) the Jo