The bill amends the Open Meetings Act of 1976 by introducing new provisions regarding remote attendance and participation in public body meetings. It establishes a new section (3b) that outlines the conditions under which members of public bodies can attend meetings remotely, differentiating between Class A, B, and C public bodies. For Class A public bodies, a quorum must be present in person, and remote participants can engage in discussions but not in voting. Class B and C public bodies have more flexibility, allowing remote participation in both discussions and decisions, provided that two-way communication is maintained throughout the meeting. The bill also emphasizes that public bodies must create reasonable rules for remote participation and ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Additionally, the bill makes several deletions and modifications to existing language in sections 3 and 7 of the Open Meetings Act. Notably, it removes specific COVID-19 related provisions that were previously required for in-person meetings and clarifies the requirements for closed sessions, including the necessity for a roll call vote to call such sessions. The bill also repeals section 3a of the Open Meetings Act and retroactively applies certain provisions to affirm the legislature's intent regarding remote participation. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance transparency and accessibility in public meetings while adapting to modern communication methods.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 15.263, 15.267