Bill S.59, introduced by Senator Hardy, proposes amendments to Vermont's Open Meeting Law. The bill clarifies that annual municipal meetings and representative town meetings are not considered public bodies subject to the Open Meeting Law. Additionally, it allows public bodies to enter executive sessions to discuss interest rates related to publicly financed loans. The definition of "public body" is amended to exclude these types of meetings, and the term "undue hardship" is redefined to consider the resources available to the government entity when determining compliance difficulties.

Further changes include the requirement for public bodies to electronically record public hearings and provide access to these recordings. The bill also modifies the rules regarding executive sessions, allowing discussions about interest rates for publicly financed loans as a valid reason for such sessions. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 1-310, 1-312, 1-313