The proposed bill, HB2481, amends Arizona's open meeting laws to expand requirements for public bodies, excluding the Legislature. Key changes include mandating that all public bodies provide an opportunity for public comment before final decisions, ensuring public meeting agendas are available at least 48 hours in advance, and requiring sufficient seating for anticipated attendance at all public meetings. Additionally, the bill stipulates that public bodies must post statements of legal actions and meeting minutes on their websites, thereby broadening the scope of transparency.

Notably, the bill removes the Legislature from the definition of a "public body," which means it will not be subject to these expanded open meeting requirements. It also increases the notice period for public meetings from 24 to 48 hours and requires that meeting agendas include hyperlinks to relevant documents. These changes aim to enhance public participation and transparency in government proceedings across various public bodies in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-431, 38-431.01, 38-431.02, 38-431.08, 38-431.03, 41-1279.04, 1-301
House Engrossed Version: 38-431, 38-431.01, 38-431.02, 38-431.08, 38-431.03, 41-1279.04, 1-301