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Virtual Meetings State and Local Government Public Meetings

Roetzel & Andress

Virtual Public Meetings Will Soon Be Permissible Again – but Only for Some Governmental Entities, and Only Under Certain...

Roetzel & Andress on

In January, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 257, “to authorize certain public bodies to meet virtually,” which will take effect April 9, 2025. During the COVID-19 crisis, most public bodies took emergency action to conduct...more

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

West Virginia Legislature Advances Bill Protecting Public Access to Meetings

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP on

In a busy Legislative Session, one bill passed that may go unnoticed, but will be of help to Boards of Education. Through House Bill 3146, the Legislature adopted the Uniform Public Meetings During Emergencies Act (“the...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

Virtual public meetings bill - House concurred in Senate amendments

Bricker Graydon LLP on

On Wednesday, February 9, the Ohio House concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 51. Of particular interest is an uncodified provision authorizing public meetings to be held by teleconference, video conference or other...more

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

New Law Authorizes Virtual Option for Public Meetings

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

On September 2, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S.50001/A.40001), which includes a number of statutory protections and other emergency public health measures adopted in response to the recent increase in the...more

Jackson Walker

Governor Abbott Lifts Suspension of Certain Texas Open Meetings Act Provisions

Jackson Walker on

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

Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.

Proposed Rhode Island Open Meetings Act Legislation

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rhode Island public bodies have been authorized to meet remotely pursuant to Executive Orders issued by the Rhode Island Governor’s Office...more

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass

As California Opens for Business, Public Hearings Allowed To Continue Remotely Through At Least September 30, 2021

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20, suspending open public meeting requirements under the Brown Act and Bagley-Keene Act thereby allowing state and...more

Roetzel & Andress

The Requirement Of In-Person Public Meetings Resumes

Roetzel & Andress on

As of July 1, 2021, public entities must take care to conduct their public meetings and public business in-person, as was the norm prior to the COVID-19 pandemic... ...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

Local governments: The end of the virtual public meeting? All is not lost

Bricker Graydon LLP on

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

Bricker Graydon LLP

Municipalities: The end of the virtual public meeting? All is not lost

Bricker Graydon LLP on

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

Nossaman LLP

Update on Executive Order N-29-20

Nossaman LLP on

Unbelievably, it was March 17, 2020, when Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20 (amending Executive Order N-25-20 in part), which allows local or state legislative bodies to hold meetings via teleconference and...more

Miller Canfield

Authority to Hold Electronic Meetings Under Michigan Open Meetings Act Now Limited

Miller Canfield on

On March 30, 2021, the authority for Michigan public bodies to hold electronic "virtual" meetings for any reason under the Michigan Open Meetings Act ("OMA") expired. Thus, starting on March 31, 2021, and continuing until...more

Best Best & Krieger LLP

Are Virtual Public Meetings Here to Stay?

Three New Bills Could Make Permanent Changes to Public Meetings - As we conclude a full year of virtual meetings, the use of “Zoom” and other virtual meeting applications has become so commonplace that it might be easy to...more

Dickinson Wright

Electronic Public Meetings – Time-Sensitive Steps For Local Units of Government To Take Now In The Face of Uncertain Future...

Dickinson Wright on

Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) has been amended a number of times since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to address and allow electronic meetings under certain circumstances. The current state of the law is that...more

Clark Hill PLC

Recent Michigan Open Meetings Act Amendments Significantly Limit Remote Meetings or Participation After March 31, 2021

Clark Hill PLC on

In October 2020, and then again in December 2020, the Michigan Legislature amended the Open Meetings Act to expressly permit remote meetings of public bodies while the COVID-19 pandemic continued. The initial amendment became...more

Franczek P.C.

Muting Mishap: Illinois PAC Opinions on Use of “Sidebars” During Virtual Meetings

Franczek P.C. on

During an in-person meeting of a public body, it is not uncommon for individuals to have sidebar discussions. Such discussions do not necessarily violate any rules or laws, including the Illinois Open Meetings Act. But what...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

Virtual Public Meeting option extended through July 1, 2021

Bricker Graydon LLP on

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

Miller Canfield

Michigan Legislature Passes Open Meetings Act Amendment Allowing Electronic Public Meetings

Miller Canfield on

On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, the Michigan Legislature adopted amendments to the Open Meetings Act (the "OMA"), which would have immediate effect upon signature by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.  Senate Bill 1108...more

Franczek P.C.

New OMA Requirements for Virtual Meetings Are Now Law

Franczek P.C. on

On Friday, June 12, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Public Act 101-640,?which, among other things, amends the Open Meetings Act to allow public bodies to hold virtual board meetings without the physical presence of a...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

Washington Open Public Meetings During COVID-19 - Update #2

Port Commissions and other governing bodies subject to Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) have new guidance from the Washington Attorney General on conducting public meetings. Agencies must conduct public meetings...more

Perkins Coie

Washington Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act Requirements Temporarily Waived and Suspended in Response to COVID-19

Perkins Coie on

Washington public meeting and public records laws contemplate that members of the public can be physically present at the meeting location or the agency office. During this time of social distancing, however, those...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Pennsylvania Enacts Law Clarifying Local Government Functions During COVID-19

Ballard Spahr LLP on

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

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

Remote Public Hearings Authorized Under Executive Order No. 202-15

On April 9, 2020, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202.15 (the “Executive Order”), which dealt with, among many other issues, public hearings to be held by a local or state official, local government or...more

Cranfill Sumner LLP

COVID-19 and Compliance with Open Meeting Laws: Going Virtual

Cranfill Sumner LLP on

The North Carolina open meetings law gives the public a right to attend official meetings of public entities and require public entities to provide notice of and access to official meetings. Amid the current threat posed by...more

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Coronavirus & The Open Meetings Law: How To Hold Public Meetings During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

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

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