Bill > H2775

This bill updates the open meeting law, also known as the "Sunshine Law," which requires public bodies to conduct their business in public. Key provisions include allowing town meetings to include attendance and deliberation by a quorum of a public body, and it makes a technical correction by changing a figure from "23" to "22" in a specific section. The bill also introduces a new category of "exempt volunteer body," which are unpaid groups appointed by municipal bodies that only advise or recommend actions and have been granted an exemption. It revises the definition of "public body" to clarify what entities are included and excluded, such as excluding the General Court and judicial branch bodies, and explicitly including subcommittees that advise public bodies. Furthermore, the bill allows public bodies to satisfy the requirement for written minutes by maintaining an audio or video recording of the meeting, along with the notice and agenda, certified by a designated official, though written minutes are still permitted. Finally, it adds new exceptions to the open meeting law, permitting public bodies to meet privately with attorneys to discuss privileged matters, engage in contract or license negotiations (excluding labor-related ones), conduct real estate development agreement negotiations, and perform periodic performance evaluations of managerial personnel.