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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-41
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
APRIL 7, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,theOpenMeetingsActtoclarifythedefinitionofmeeting,toprovideforapublicbody’sabilitytobebriefedaboutpotentialterroristorpublichealththreatssolongasnoofficialactionistaken,toexemptfromtheactmeetingsbetweentheCouncilandtheMayorprovidedthatnoofficialactionistakenatsuchmeetings,andto
providethatameetingshallbedeemedopentothepublicifthepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingis,takingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.
BEI ENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“OpenMeetingsClarificationEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.TheOpenMeetingsAct,effectiveMarch31,2011(D.C.Law18-350;D.C.OfficialCode§2-571etseq.),isamendedasfollows:(a)Section404(D.C.OfficialCode§2-574)isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(1)(A)“Meeting”meansanygatheringofaquorumofthemembersofapublicbody,includinghearingsandroundtables,whetherformalorinformal,regular,special,oremergency,atwhichthemembersconsider,conduct,oradviseonpublicbusiness,includinggatheringinformation,takingtestimony,discussing,deliberating,recommending,andvoting,regardlessofwhetherheldinperson,bytelephone,electronically,orbyothermeansofcommunication,“(B)Theterm“meeting”shallnotinclude:“(i)Achanceorsocialgathering;provided,thatitisnotheldtoavoidtheprovisionsofthisparagraph;or“@i)Apressconference,“(C)ForthepurposesoftheCouneiloftheDistrictofColumbia,theterm“meeting”meansaregularoradditionallegislativemeeting,andcommitteemeetingswherevotesaretaken.”.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(E)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”and
insertinga semicoloninitsplace.
(B)Subparagraph(F)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodattheendand
insertingthephrase“;or”initsplace.
(C) Anewsubparagraph(G)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(G)The CriminalJusticeCoordinatingCouncil.”.
(b)Section405(D.C.OfficialCode§2-575)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Subsection(a)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”andinsertinga
semicoloninitsplace.
(B)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“televised.”and
insertingthephrase“televised;or”initsplace.
(C)A newparagraph(4)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(4)Thepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictoview
orhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologically
feasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.”.
(2)Subsection(b)(8)isamended toreadas follows:
“(8)Todiscussandtakeactionregardingspecificmethodsandproceduresto
protectthepublicorapublicbodyfromexistingorpotentialterroristactivityorothersubstantial
dangerstopublichealthandsafety,ortoreceivebriefingsbystaffmembers,legalcounsel,law
enforcementofficials,oremergencyserviceofficialsconcerningthesemethodsandprocedures;
provided,thatdisclosurecouldendangerthepublicorthepublicbody;”.
(3)Subsection(f)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“( Notwithstandinganyprovisionofthisact,theCouncilmayadoptitsownrulesto
ensuretheDistrict’sopenmeetingspolicy,asestablishedinsection402,ismetwithrespectto
gatheringsofcouncilmembers;provided,thatunlesstheCounciladoptsrulespursuanttothis
subsection,thistitleshallapplytotheCouncil.”.
(4)A newsubsection(h)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(h)ThistitleshallnotapplytoameetingbetweenmembersoftheCouncilandthe
Mayor;provided,thatnoofficialactionisdecidedatthemeeting.”
(c)Section406(D.C.OfficialCode§2-576)isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Exceptforemergency
meetings,a publicbodyshallprovide”and insertingthephrase“A publicbody shallattemptto
provide”initsplace.
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Notwithstandingthenotice
requirementofparagraph(2)ofthissubsection,except”andinsertingtheword“Except”inits
place.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(3)Paragraph(4)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“urgentmatter,”andinserting
thephrase“urgentmatter,andnotwithstandingparagraphs(1)and(3)ofthissubsection,”inits
place.(d)Section407(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-577(a))isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(1)Reasonablearrangementsaremadetoaccommodatethepublie’srighttoattendthemeetingorstepsaretakenthatarereasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictoviewortohearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable;”.(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“takenbyrollcall”and
insertingtheword“recorded”initsplace.(@)Section409%(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-579(a))isamendedbystrikingthephrase
“Councilmeetings”andinsertingthephrase“meetingsandgatheringsofcouncilmembers”initsplace.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpact
statementrequiredby section4aof theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovaloftheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan
ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
90 days,as providedforemergency actsof theCouncilofthe Districtof Columbia insection
412(a)of theDistrictof Columbia Home Rule Act,approvedDecember 24, 1973 (87 Stat.788;
D.C. OfficialCode § 1-204.12(a)).
Ge‘hairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
Mayor
Districtof Colambia
APPROVEDAPRIL 7, 2025
DocketNo.826-0199
[JITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[xJAcTION
DOVOTEDATE
[XIVOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE~Result
COUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
April4,2025
Approved
Allen,andLewisGeorge
[CouncilMember_| Aye[Nay|NV_|AB| Rec|CouncilMember_|Aye|Nay|NV|AB| Rec|CouncilMember| Aye|Nay|NV_|AB| Rec
ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson__| x Pinto x
‘Alen x LewisGeorge x RWhite x
Bonds x Mcoutfe
Felder Nadeau
Frumin x Parker
X-IndicateVoto [AB~Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
4-32-37‘SecretarytotheCounel