Allowing virtual meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) remains an area of focus for legislators this session.

HB 1056 passed unanimously out of the House with only a few clarifying amendments. The main purpose of the bill is to allow virtual public meetings during emergencies. It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State Government & Elections Committee this week. As amended, the bill would create a new exemption for some cities and towns from having to post agendas online before a public meeting. A city would be exempt from the requirement if the city:

1. Has an aggregate valuation of taxable property less than $400 million;
2. Has a population of fewer than 3,000 residents; and
3. Provides the State Auditor notice that the cost of posting notices on a website would exceed .1% of the city’s budget.

AWC supports HB 1056.

HB 1329 is set for a vote this week in the House Local Government Committee. The bill would require a virtual option for attending all public meetings. If a city chose to meet remotely, it would not have to offer an in-person option. The bill would also require all meetings to be recorded and the recording made publicly available. It does provide an exemption for cities with fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees or cities where the cost to provide remote access would be more than one percent of the city’s annual budget. Additionally, it would require cities to offer a public comment period before the City Council takes any significant final action.

While AWC appreciates the goals of HB 1329, we are concerned about the costs to cities for recording all meetings.

HB 1180 is also set for a vote in the House Local Government Committee. The bill would allow cities to hold all public meetings virtually, whether in an emergency or not. However, under the bill, cities would have to allow for public testimony at every meeting. Cities would do so either by way of video, phone, or comments submitted in advance to be read aloud during the meeting.

AWC appreciates the goal of HB 1180; however, we are opposed to the state mandating a public comment period at all meetings.

We anticipate an amended version of either HB 1180 or HB 1329 to emerge and advance; it would not make sense to move both bills dealing with similar provisions of the law. AWC will meet with legislators next week to learn more about possible amendments to the bills.

Dates to remember

HB 1056 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate State Government & Elections committee on Friday, February 12 at 10:30 am.

HB 1180 and HB 1329 are scheduled for a vote in the House Local Government Committee on Friday, February 12 at 8 am.