Senate Bill 1944, also known as House Bill 1858, amends Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance the conduct of community meetings by allowing electronic participation. The bill introduces new definitions for "community meeting" and "local governing body," clarifying the scope of these gatherings and the entities involved. It establishes guidelines for local governing bodies that choose to hold community meetings with electronic participation, ensuring that members of the public can view, listen, and participate in real-time through video or audio conferencing.

The bill outlines specific requirements for local governing bodies, including the necessity to provide public notice of the meeting, ensure accessibility for participants, and maintain a recording of the meeting for public access. Additionally, it mandates that members participating electronically must be identifiable and able to communicate effectively with one another. Importantly, the bill prohibits voting on any matters during community meetings where members are participating electronically, thereby maintaining the integrity of decision-making processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-44-108(a), 8-44-108