Bill > S0059

This bill amends Vermont's Open Meeting Law to enhance transparency and accessibility of public meetings. The key provisions include requiring state public bodies (except advisory bodies) to hold hybrid meetings with both physical and electronic platforms, electronically record all meetings, and post those recordings for at least 30 days after the meeting. The bill clarifies the definition of "undue hardship" when complying with meeting requirements, and expands the reasons for holding executive sessions to include cybersecurity and confidential business information related to publicly financed loans. The bill also modifies notice requirements for special meetings, mandating that agendas contain sufficient details and be posted in multiple locations. Additionally, it expands annual training requirements to include members of certain advisory bodies and updates the definition of disorderly conduct at public meetings to more precisely describe actions that can substantially impair the effective conduct of an assembly or meeting. These changes aim to increase public access to government proceedings, improve meeting transparency, and provide clearer guidelines for public bodies when conducting meetings.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.59