summary
Introduced
03/02/2026
03/02/2026
In Committee
03/02/2026
03/02/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 61.815 to require the presiding officer of a public meeting to provide notice before going into closed session of the general nature of business to be discussed, the reason for the closed session, and any persons not members of the board, commission, committee, authority, council, or governing body of the public agency who will be present; require the closed session to be recorded by video or audio and stored for 180 days; exempt the recording of the closed session from the Open Records Act; amend KRS 61.820 to require a public agency to adopt, on an annual basis, a schedule of its regular meetings; require a public agency to provide notice of its regular meeting by publishing its agenda at least 24 hours, but not more than 7 days before the meeting; provide agenda requirements; prohibit a public agency from recessing a meeting longer than 60 minutes unless exceptions apply; require the public agency to adjourn the meeting if a recess exceeds 60 minutes; prohibit a vote on any item discussed immediately prior to the recess until the next regular meeting; require each regular meeting to include public comment of at least 15 minutes; amend KRS 61.823 to require each special meeting to include public comment of at least 15 minutes; amend KRS 61.840 to prohibit a public agency from requiring a person to identify himself or herself, provide his or her address, or sign up to speak at a meeting; amend KRS 61.848 to require a court to award a person $500, instead of $100 who prevails against a public agency for violation of the Open Meetings Act, to be paid by the person or persons who are found to have violated the act.
AI Summary
This bill strengthens public access to government meetings by requiring presiding officers to announce the general nature and reason for closed sessions, and to identify any non-members present, with these closed sessions now needing to be recorded by video or audio and stored for 180 days, though these recordings are exempt from public inspection under the Open Records Act. Public agencies must now annually adopt a schedule of their regular meetings and provide at least 24 hours but no more than 7 days' notice of their agenda, which must include general discussion items and action items, and they cannot vote on items not on the agenda unless specific exceptions apply to recesses longer than 60 minutes, in which case the meeting must be adjourned. Both regular and special meetings must now include at least 15 minutes for public comment, and individuals will no longer be required to identify themselves, provide their address, or sign up to speak at meetings. Finally, if a person successfully sues a public agency for violating these open meeting laws, the court must award them $500 for each violation, paid by the individuals found responsible, in addition to potential costs and attorney fees.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
to Committee on Committees (S) (on 03/02/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb331.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb331/orig_bill.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb331/LM.pdf |
Loading...