The bill amends the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 to enhance transparency and accountability in public meetings. It introduces new definitions for terms such as "background and nondecisional information," "cybersecurity," "deliberation," and "poll," which clarify the types of information and interactions within governing bodies. The bill mandates prior notice for public meetings, ensures reasonable public access, and requires that meetings be recorded. It also specifies conditions for holding executive sessions, emphasizing that they should not undermine the transparency goals of the Act, while allowing discussions on cybersecurity breaches and public water system security to occur in these sessions.

Additionally, the bill establishes provisions for the conduct and recording of public meetings, including requirements for remote attendance. Members attending remotely must be verified, heard, and identified, and they are prohibited from receiving mileage or per diem for such attendance. The bill restricts informal communications among governing body members that involve deliberation or decision-making outside of public meetings, with actions taken in violation of these rules subject to invalidation by a circuit court. It also clarifies that public school districts' remote meeting practices will adhere to existing law, reinforcing the commitment to transparency in governmental operations.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB227 V2 - 2-20-2025 11:00 AM: 25-19-103(6), 25-19-103
Old version SB227 V3 - 2-26-2025 11:14 AM: 25-19-103(6), 25-19-103
Old version SB227 V4 - 3-3-2025 10:57 AM: 25-19-103(6), 25-19-103
Old version SB227 V5 - 3-10-2025 10:27 AM: 25-19-103(6), 25-19-103
Old version SB227 Original - 2-13-2025 10:34 AM: 25-19-103(6), 25-19-103
SB 227: 25-19-103(6), 25-19-103