Advisory Opinions

Formal advisory opinions, such as the ones below, are public and must be requested at least six weeks prior to a scheduled Council meeting. Draft opinions are not released. You must wait until the Council meets and votes on the opinion to receive the analysis. Formal advisory opinions are best for inquiries that will have a broad application; they are not optimal for questions that are very specific to your set of circumstances.
 
Informal guidance is completely confidential and can be requested via email at ethics@dls.virginia.gov. Response times of two-four weeks are guaranteed, but are often shorter. 
 
Date Title
2023
11/28/2023 2023-F-001 Difference between retained lobbyists and employed lobbyists in reporting reimbursed personal travel expenses
11/28/2023 2023-F-002 Registration as a lobbyist required if compensated by client to meet with legislative or executive officials
for purposes of providing information
2021
11/23/2021 2021-F-001  Personal interest in a transaction exists when officer of state agency provides volunteer services to an organization
2020
11/18/2020

2020-F-001  Applicability of restrictions on gifts made by a locality that is a lobbyist's principal to members of the governing body
2017
   
04/24/2017 2017-F-001 Savings clause for quorums § 2.2-3112
07/18/2017 2017-F-002 Applicability of public Procurement Act to personal interests in contracts §§ 2.2-3106, 2.2-3107, 2.2-3108,
2.2-3109, & 30-105
10/17/2017 2017-F-003 Purchase of real estate at tax auction by employee of the locality §§ 2.2-3109, 2.2-3110
10/17/2017 2017-F-004 Legislator reporting of an event § 30-111
2016
4/26/2016 2016-F-001 § 2.2-3101 Professional organization membership
4/26/2016 2016-F-002 §§ 2.2-3114, 2.2-3115 & 2.2-3116 Departure filing
4/26/2016 2016-F-003 §§ 2.2-3117 & 30-111 Board of directors filers
4/26/2016 2016-F-004 § 2.2-419 PACs associated with a lobbyist’s principal
4/26/2016 2016-F-005 § 30-103.1 Lobbyist friends
4/26/2016 2016-F-008 § 30-103.1 & 30-111 Legislative organization conferences
11/21/2016 2016-F-009 Employer gifts § 2.2-3101
11/21/2016 2016-F-010 Contractor event §§ 2.2-3101 & 2.2-3103.1
11/21/2016 2016-F-011 Events at conferences §§ 2.2-3101 & 2.2-3103.1
11/21/2016 2016-F-012 Service on a private board § 2.2-3101
11/21/2016 2016-F-013 Travel paid for by a public university within the Commonwealth § 2.2-3101
11/21/2016 2016-F-014 Food received at an event while performing official duties § 2.2-3101
2015
12/10/2015 2015-F-001 § 2.2-3103.1 Applicability of gift cap
10/17/2017 2015-F-002 Commission filers § 2.2-3115
12/10/2015 2015-F-003  § 30-101 Professional organization membership
12/10/2015 2015-F-004  § 2.2-426 Lobbyist reporting of a banquet