The bill amends Chapter 42-46 of the General Laws, titled "Open Meetings," to enhance transparency and accessibility in public meetings. It introduces a new definition of "advisory body," which refers to entities that provide advice without decision-making authority. Key provisions include allowing advisory bodies to conduct public meetings via videoconferencing, subject to specific requirements, such as ensuring public participation without costs and providing effective means of communication for public input.

Additionally, the bill mandates that all city and town councils and school boards provide livestreams of their meetings starting January 1, 2027, with similar requirements for accessibility and public participation. It requires that all documents discussed in open meetings be posted or linked with the electronic agenda submitted to the secretary of state.

The bill emphasizes detailed record-keeping, mandating that public bodies maintain minutes of their meetings, including votes and participation via videoconferencing, which must also be electronically filed. It allows for the recording of meetings and requires that recordings be made available online within twenty-four hours of adjournment.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for ensuring compliance with nondiscrimination laws regarding individuals with disabilities and requires public bodies to adopt procedures for requesting reasonable accommodations. It deletes previous language that permitted certain boards to participate remotely, replacing it with updated guidelines for videoconferencing. Overall, these amendments aim to improve public engagement and ensure that meetings are accessible to all citizens.