Bill > B26-0208

This bill amends the Open Meetings Act to clarify and expand regulations around public meetings in the District of Columbia. The bill redefines "meeting" to include a broader range of gatherings where public business is discussed, while specifically excluding certain types of interactions like social gatherings, press conferences, and field trips. It provides new provisions allowing public bodies to be briefed about potential terrorist or public health threats without taking official action, and creates an exemption for meetings between the City Council and the Mayor, provided no official action is taken. The bill also introduces more flexible public access requirements, stating that a meeting can be considered open to the public if reasonable steps are taken to allow public viewing or hearing of the meeting, either in real-time or as soon as technologically feasible afterward. Additionally, the bill modifies notice and recording requirements for meetings, giving public bodies more latitude in how they accommodate public attendance and document proceedings. The changes aim to balance transparency in government operations with practical considerations of security and logistical constraints.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0208