Bill > B26-0208

This bill, the Open Meetings Clarification Amendment Act of 2025, amends the District of Columbia's Open Meetings Act to clarify what constitutes a "meeting" for public bodies, generally defined as any gathering of a quorum of members where public business is discussed or advised upon, with exceptions for chance social gatherings and press conferences, and a specific definition for Council meetings that involve votes. It allows public bodies to receive briefings on potential terrorist or public health threats without these being considered official meetings if no action is taken, and exempts meetings between the Council and the Mayor from the act's requirements, provided no official action is taken. The bill also establishes that a meeting is considered open to the public if reasonable steps are taken to allow public viewing or listening, either live or as soon as technologically feasible, and clarifies notice requirements for certain Council gatherings. Additionally, it expands the types of communication considered in meetings to include text messages and updates the definition of what can be discussed in closed sessions regarding public safety threats.