The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 42-46, "Open Meetings," to update the conditions under which a public body may hold a closed meeting and to regulate the use of electronic communications for public body meetings. It specifies various situations where a closed meeting is permissible, such as discussions of personal performance, collective bargaining, and security matters, among others. The bill also outlines the conditions for using electronic communication by public body members, including for scheduling meetings, participation by members on active military duty, or as a reasonable accommodation for members with disabilities.

Furthermore, the bill introduces provisions for remote participation in open public meetings via videoconferencing for advisory public bodies, ensuring public access to these meetings at no charge and allowing for public comment. It requires public notice when videoconferencing is used and mandates the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees to adopt rules regarding remote participation. The bill clarifies that remote participation does not apply to advisory bodies that are part of or report to the public body that created them and exempts certain judicial proceedings from its provisions. The act is set to take effect on January 30, 2024.

Statutes affected:
5722  SUB A: 42-46-5
5722: 42-46-5