The bill aiming to add clarity to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) for gathering governing bodies during a natural disaster response did not make it out of its policy committee ahead of the cutoff. This renders the bill dead for this session.

AWC appreciates the bill sponsor’s efforts to add the clarifications outlined in SB 6000 and hopes to see a similar bill in future sessions.

Legislation seeks to clarify how to balance OPMA during natural disasters

January 23, 2026

Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) outlines that whenever a quorum of a government body is gathered, the public has a right to 24-hours' notice of the meeting and to be present. SB 6000, sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner (R–Sedro-Woolley), seeks to add clarification to the existing law by outlining specific instances when governing bodies may gather and establish a quorum without triggering an OPMA requirement.

In cases of a federal- or state-declared emergency due to a natural disaster, a majority of a governing body may gather in order to fulfil their duties in response to the disaster. This would include gathering for briefings with county, state, or federal agencies, to conduct visual inspection of damage by any transportation method required, or when holding or attending press conferences so long as no final action is planned or taken during these occasions.

Additionally, the bill would allow the governing body within the affected area to take actions that are directly related to the emergent situation when in a remote meeting or one in which physical attendance of members of the public may not be possible or limited due to the declared emergency at hand. Allowable actions outlined in the bill to address the emergency include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Authorization of emergency measures;
• Approval of emergency ordinances;
• Approval of spending or contrasting needs to help manage disaster response or recovery; or
• Approval of managing agreements with state or federal partners for disaster response or recovery.

We know balancing the need for timely action with OPMA can be difficult under extenuating circumstances, such as the recent historic flooding across the state. This clarification would not remove the importance of transparency and citizen participation in governing body decisions but would help cities manage emergent, unforeseen situations where participation is limited due to factors outside of the local government’s control. Share with the committee and your local legislators how this bill would impact your city’s response times in periods of great need for timely action.

Dates to remember

SB 6000 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs, & Elections Committee on January 30 at 10:30 am.