Bill > HB80

This bill modifies the existing law (RSA 91-A:2) regarding public body meeting attendance and voting procedures, making two key changes: First, it narrows the circumstances under which a public body member can participate electronically, replacing the previous language of "not reasonably practical" with "unavoidable" when describing situations where in-person attendance is impossible. This means members must make a more compelling case for remote participation and must explicitly state the reason for their unavoidable absence in the meeting minutes. Second, the bill stipulates that members participating electronically are not considered present for voting purposes, effectively requiring physical attendance to cast a vote. All votes taken during meetings where members are participating remotely must be conducted by roll call vote. These changes aim to ensure more direct, in-person participation and transparency in public meetings. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, giving public bodies time to adjust to the new requirements.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0103&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB80