DE Under 3: Behind the Scenes of EEOC’s Full Commission Hearing
Government in the Virtual World: A Look at Public Meetings and Hearings
Ethics Laws and the Importance of Transparency for Public Officials
On March 28, 2025, Mass. Governor Maura Healy signed an emergency law extending the COVID-19 remote and hybrid meeting authorizations for public meetings of local boards and committees until June 30, 2027. The law, Chapter 2...more
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 16, 2020, at the Attorney General’s request, Governor Greg Abbott utilized Section 418.016 of the Government Code to suspend certain requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act...more
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of public entities had to continue. Amended Substitute House Bill 197 made that possible, by modifying the requirements of R.C. 121.22 to permit public bodies to meet by...more
On November 19, 2020, the Ohio General Assembly passed Substitute House Bill 404, which extends the ability to hold virtual public meetings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic beyond the previous December 1, 2020, deadline,...more
Recognizing the need for citizens to gather and debate at town meetings, and in an effort to protect the health and safety of all those in attendance, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has...more
This week, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 841 into law, which permits the limited suspension of certain requirements to allow municipalities to conduct business remotely during the COVID-19 emergency. ...more
The New Jersey Division of Local Government Services (the “Division”) provided operational guidance this week, encouraging municipal Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Adjustment to engage in telephonic and/or virtual...more
On April 2, the Division of Local Government Affairs in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) issued an operational guidance document to ensure the continuity of land use application procedures and to ensure...more
The public health crisis created by COVID-19 has forced municipal officials statewide to cancel, suspend or postpone previously scheduled public hearings and meetings. How do public bodies conduct their necessary business...more
COVID-19 has impacted every facet of our lives, including the way municipalities conduct public meetings. An amendment to House Bill 1564 cruised through the State House on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, (190-0) and is heading to...more
On March 20, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law two bills that impact the ongoing operations of municipal government during the health crisis. ...more
On March 26, 2020, the City of Orlando announced that the next City Council meeting, which will take place on Monday, March 30th at 2 PM, will be “conducted virtually via an online platform.” This decision is part of the...more
While many New Jersey Municipal Buildings are currently closed to the general public due to the COVID-19 outbreak, filings of applications and permits are being accepted, although processing is dependent upon staff...more
On March 18, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order providing further flexibility to public agencies conducting their meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order N-29-20 (“Order”) amends a prior...more
With the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and in an effort to limit public gatherings, a number of Florida counties and municipalities have taken the proactive step of canceling or postponing upcoming...more
In response to the developing concern regarding the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), on March 12, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-20 (the “Order”). Among other things, the Order provides...more
California Governor Issues Executive Order Cancelling Large Gatherings and Suspending Certain Portions of the Brown Act - Today, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency Executive Order to further the State’s...more
Today, in light of public health concerns due to COVID-19, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order suspending certain Brown Act rules....more