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Bill > HB4177

OR HB4177

OR HB4177
Relating to public meetings; prescribing an effective date.

summary

Introduced
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/05/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: The Act changes how officials may talk outside of public meetings. The Act changes how OGEC oversees and trains on the public meetings law. The Act changes how governing bodies and public bodies may cure public meetings law violations. The Act takes effect 91 days after session ends. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.4). Restates the serial communications prohibitions for public meetings law purposes. Identifies the types of communications between governing body members that are excluded from public meetings requirements. Clarifies that public meetings may be held in person, through use of electronic means or in a hybrid format of in-person and electronic means. Requires public meetings law complainants to provide specified documentation to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission before complaints are considered filed. Requires complainants to proceed in court if the complaint alleges a public meetings law violation by one or more members of the commission. Modifies requirements concerning which public officials must attend public meetings law train- ing and when those officials must attend the training. Directs the commission to proceed against a public body, in lieu of a public official associated with a public body, if a complaint or a commission motion alleges that the violation constitutes ad- ministrative error. Establishes methods by which governing bodies and public bodies may cure public meetings law violations under certain circumstances. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Oregon's public meetings law by clarifying what constitutes a "convening" and "deliberation" for public meetings, allowing meetings to be held in person, electronically, or in a hybrid format, and establishing procedures for how governing bodies and public bodies can correct violations of the public meetings law, known as "curing" violations. It also requires complainants to provide specific documentation to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) before their complaints are considered filed and mandates that complaints alleging violations by OGEC members must be pursued in court. The bill also adjusts the requirements for public officials attending mandatory training on public meetings law, specifying that only members of governing bodies with decision-making authority over public bodies with expenditures of $1 million or more are required to attend, and clarifies that the OGEC can proceed against a public body directly if a violation is deemed an "administrative error," which is defined as a minor, unintentional mistake such as a typographical error on an agenda or in meeting notices, rather than against an individual public official. Additionally, the bill expands the types of communications between governing body members that are exempt from public meeting requirements and sets a 90-day window for filing grievances related to alleged violations. This bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Rules (H)

Last Action

Referred to Rules. (on 02/05/2026)

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