The Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) moves closer to seeing its first major update in decades.

HB 1329 made it through the House with an 89-6 vote and picked up an important amendment along the way. Previously, the bill would have required cities to provide a public comment period at or before every regular public meeting, except in emergency situations. An adopted amendment now limits that requirement to regular meetings at which final action is to be taken. HB 1329 currently awaits a hearing in the Senate.

HB 1056 has been in the Senate since late January. The bill allows local governments to hold virtual public meetings during a declared emergency. HB 1056 is scheduled for a committee vote on Friday, March 12. AWC continues to support this bill.