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B26-0087 • 2025

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Mendelson
Last action
2025-02-28
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed amendments to specific sections of the Open Meetings Act, only that such amendments are made.

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This act extends the authority for public meetings to be held virtually, allowing the public to view or hear these meetings either during or shortly after they occur.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the ability of public bodies in Washington D.C. to hold virtual meetings.
  • Requires that steps are taken to allow the public to view or listen to meetings while they happen or as soon as possible afterward if it's not technologically feasible during the meeting.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public bodies in Washington D.C. that hold public meetings.
  • The general public who want to attend or view public meetings.

Terms To Know

Open Meetings Act
A law that requires government meetings to be open and accessible to the public.
Virtual Meeting
A meeting conducted through technology, such as video conferencing or teleconferencing.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act is only in effect for up to 90 days and will expire on May 26, 2025.
  • It does not specify what happens if the technology needed for virtual meetings is unavailable.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0019 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 002027, Expires on May 26, 2025

  2. 2025-02-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0019, Expires on May 26, 2025

  3. 2025-02-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  4. 2025-02-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Feb 24, 2025

  5. 2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0087 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL.

INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,theOpenMeetingsActtoprovidethatameetingshallbedeemedopentothepublicifthepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.
BE ITENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“VirtualOpenMeetingsAuthorityExtensionEmergencyAmendmentActof 2025”.
Sec.2.TheOpenMeetingsAct,effectiveMarch31,2011(D.C.Law18-350;D.C. OfficialCode § 2-571 etseq.),isamended as follows:
(a)Section405(a)(D.C,OfficialCode§2-575(a))isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”andinsertinga
semicoloninitsplace.(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodandinsertingthephrase“;or”initsplace.(3)Anewparagraph(4)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(4)Thepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafierasreasonablypracticable.(b)Section407(a)(1)(D.C.OfficialCode§ 2-577(a)(1))isamendedbystrikingthe
phrase“attendthemeeting;”andinsertingthephrase“attendthemeeting,orstepsaretakenthatarereasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonably
practicable;”initsplace.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
1
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
Lipoe —jairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia.
——_______UNSTGNED __
MayorDistrictofColumbiaFEBRUARY 20, 2025

COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

DocketNo,626-0087
[1ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,

(action FinalReading
D<dVOTEDATE February4,2025
D<1VoICEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE~Resutt

CounciMember [Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CounciiMember [AB|Rec|CouncMember[Aye|Nay|NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson Pinto
‘Allen x LewisGeorge RWhite
Bonds x MeDutfie
Felaer x Nadeau
Frumin x Parker
X-IndicateVote ‘ABAbsent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused a CERTIFICATIONRECOROSe a-S -902S‘SecretarytotheCounc rr