B26-0088 • 2025

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Temporary 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: 2025-05-16
Official status: Official Law
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information on which specific sections of the Open Meetings Act are amended, only that amendments have been made to allow for virtual meetings.

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This act temporarily extends the authority for public bodies in Washington D.C. to hold virtual open meetings.

What This Bill Does

Extends the authority for public bodies in Washington D.C. to hold virtual open meetings.
Requires that steps are taken to allow the public to view or listen to these meetings while they happen, or as soon as possible afterward if it's not technologically feasible.

Who It Names or Affects

Public bodies in Washington D.C. that hold open meetings.
The public who want to attend these meetings virtually or view them online.

Terms To Know

Open Meetings Act: A law that requires certain government meetings to be open to the public and allows people to attend and observe.
Virtual Open Meetings: Meetings held online or through technology, allowing participants to join remotely.

Limits and Unknowns

The act is temporary and will expire on December 17, 2025.
It does not specify how public bodies should implement virtual meetings, only that they must be accessible to the public.

Bill History

2025-05-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Law L26-0005, Effective from May 06, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 005854, Expires on Dec 17, 2025
2025-03-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Congress
2025-03-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Act A26-0026 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 003120
2025-03-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0026
2025-03-18 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Returned from Mayor
2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 18, 2025
2025-02-18 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-02-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0088 Published in the District of Columbia Register
2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council
2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
B26-0088 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Virtual Open Meetings Authority Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-26
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
MARCH 19, 2025
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theOpenMeetingsActtoprovidethatameetingshallbedeemedopentothepublicifthepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“VirtualOpenMeetingsAuthorityExtensionTemporaryAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.The Open Meetings Act,effectiveMarch 31, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-350;
D.C.OfficialCode§2-571etseq.).isamendedasfollows:(a)Section405(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-575(a))isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”andinsertingasemicoloninitsplace.(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodandinsertingthephrase“;or”initsplace.
(3)A newparagraph(4)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(4)Thepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.”.(b)Section407(a)(1)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-577(a)(1))isamendedbystrikingthephrase“attendthemecting;”andinsertingthephrase“attendthemeeting,orstepsaretakenthatarereasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable;”initsplace.
See.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
1

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813,D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.

CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia
UNSIGNED
MayorDistrictofColumbiaMARCH 13, 2025

COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[JITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XJACTION FirstReading
[X]VoTEDATE February4,2025
(X1VOICEvoTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT

[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result

[counciMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson| x Pinto
‘Alen x LewisGeorge| x R.White
Bonds x Mebute x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote ‘ABAbsent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
\& >SecrelrytotheCounc Date
DocketNo,826-0088
[X}ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XJACTION FinalReading,CC
(x1VOTEpate February18,2025
{1VoIcEvorE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT R.wnite
[XJROLLCALLVOTE-Resut Approved
CouncMember[aye[Nay[wv[AB[Rec[CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec]CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Reo
ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson|x Pinto x
‘Aen x LewisGeorge| x R.White x
Bonds x Mebute x
Felder x Nadeau x
Feumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB~Absent. NV-Prosont,NotVoting Rc -Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
- a theCounall

Date