The bill amends the Open Meetings Act to clarify the conditions under which public bodies in Michigan can hold electronic meetings. It allows for electronic meetings under various circumstances, including retroactive provisions for meetings held during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it permits electronic attendance for members of public bodies who reside in areas affected by local emergencies and outlines specific provisions for agricultural commodity groups and municipal public employee retirement systems. Additionally, it introduces new provisions for licensing boards, stating that members attending electronically cannot vote on certain issues.

The bill also establishes requirements for conducting electronic meetings, ensuring two-way communication between members and the public, and mandates that public bodies provide advance notice of electronic meetings on their websites. It specifies that public bodies cannot require registration for participation in electronic meetings, except for necessary mechanisms for public comment. Furthermore, it clarifies that only members absent due to military duty or medical conditions may participate remotely in certain meetings, while other members must be physically present. The effective date for some of these provisions is set for February 13, 2024.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 15.263