The bill amends the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, specifically 25 O.S. 2021, Section 311, to enhance public notice requirements for meetings of public bodies. It mandates that all public bodies provide written notice of their regularly scheduled meetings by December 15 each year, detailing the date, time, and location. Additionally, it requires that at least 24 hours prior to such meetings, public notice must be displayed prominently and made available on the public body's website. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing public bodies to offer opportunities for public comment on agenda items before any business is transacted, with the option to establish rules governing the time and manner of such comments.

Key changes include the replacement of the term "areawide" with "area-wide" and updates to statutory references, such as changing Section 3106.2 to Section 311.1 of Title 25. The bill allows public bodies to limit the duration of individual comments and total comment time for agenda items, as long as these limits are applied uniformly and reasonably. Importantly, it clarifies that public bodies are not required to permit public comment. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 25-311