The bill amends Section 42-46-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46, entitled "Open Meetings," to modify the requirements for public bodies regarding meeting notices. The bill stipulates that all public bodies must provide written notice of their regularly scheduled meetings at the beginning of each calendar year, including dates, times, and places, which should be made available to the public upon request and to the secretary of state. Additionally, public bodies are required to give at least 48 hours of supplemental written notice for any meeting, excluding weekends and state holidays. This notice must include the date it was posted, the meeting details, and the nature of the business to be discussed. The bill allows for the addition of agenda items by majority vote, except for school committees, which may only add items for informational purposes unless they have been posted in accordance with the provisions of the section. Emergency meetings can be called with a majority vote and require immediate posting of notice and electronic filing with the secretary of state.

The bill also clarifies that public bodies are not required to hold open-forum sessions on topics not included in the meeting notice and may limit comments on topics not previously posted. However, if a public hearing was posted and the subject matter is withdrawn or held over for a future meeting, the public body must allow comments on the matter at that meeting. School committees have specific conditions under which they can add agenda items not in the published notice, including electronic filing and posting requirements, unexpected nature of the items, and a formal process for notifying interested parties. The bill mandates electronic transmission of all notices to the secretary of state and sets a complaint procedure with the attorney general for non-compliance. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
7115: 42-46-6