The bill amends South Dakota's open meeting laws to clarify the definition of "teleconference" and the conditions under which public meetings are considered official. Specifically, it updates the definition of "official meeting" to include any gathering of a quorum of a public body where official business or public policy is discussed, whether in person or through various electronic means, such as teleconferencing, instant messaging, or virtual meeting platforms. The bill also specifies that communications solely for scheduling or confirming attendance do not count as official meetings.

Additionally, the bill outlines that public bodies must reserve time for public comment during official meetings, although public comment is not required for certain types of meetings, such as executive sessions or inaugurations. It also states that meetings held by township supervisors or similar entities for specific purposes, like implementing previously adopted policies or conducting factual investigations related to public safety, are exempt from the open meeting provisions. Violations of these regulations are classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/15/2025: 1-25-1, 1-25-12
House Local Government Engrossed, 01/23/2025: 1-25-1, 1-25-12
Enrolled, 03/05/2025: 1-25-1, 1-25-12