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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT
D.C. ACT 26-86
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
JUNE 26, 2025
‘Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theOpenMeetingsActtoclarifythedefinitionofmeeting,toprovideforapublicbody’sabilitytobebriefedaboutpotentialterroristorpublichealththreatssolongasnoofficialactionistaken,toexemptfromtheactmeetingsbetweentheCouneilandtheMayorprovidedthatnoofficialactionistakenatsuchmeetings,andtoprovidethatameetingshallbedeemedopentothepublicifthepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmaybecitedasthe“OpenMeetingsClarificationTemporaryAmendmentActof2025”.
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,or
emergency,atwhichthemembersconsider,conduct,oradviseonpublicbusiness,includinggatheringinformation,takingtestimony,discussing,deliberating,recommending,andvoting,regardlessofwhetherheldinperson,bytelephone,electronically,orbyothermeansofcommunication.“(B)Theterm“meeting”shallnotinclude:“(I)Achanceorsocialgathering;provided,thatitisnotheldtoavoidtheprovisionsofthisparagraph;or“Gi)A pressconference.
“(C)ForthepurposesoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbia,theterm“meeting”meansaregularoradditionallegislativemeeting,andcommitteemeetingswherevotesaretaken.”.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(E)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”and
insertingasemicoloninitsplace.
(B)Subparagraph(F)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodattheendand
insertingthephrase“;ot”initsplace.
(C)Anew subparagraph(G)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(G)TheCriminalJusticeCoordinatingCouncil.”.
(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)Anew paragraph(4)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(4)Thepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictoview
orhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologically
feasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable.”.
(2)Subsection(b)(8)isamended toreadasfollows:
“(8)Todiscussandtakeactionregardingspecificmethodsandproceduresto
protectthepublicorapublicbodyfromexistingorpotentialterroristactivityorothersubstantial
dangerstopublichealthandsafety,ortoreceivebriefingsbystaffmembers,legalcounsel,law
enforcementofficials,oremergencyserviceofficialsconcerningthesemethodsandprocedures;
provided,thatdisclosurecouldendangerthepublicorthepublicbody;”.
(3)Subsection(f)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(®)Notwithstandinganyprovisionofthisact,theCouncilmayadoptitsownrulesto
ensuretheDistrict’sopenmeetingspolicy,asestablishedinsection402,ismet withrespectto
gatheringsofcouncilmembers;provided,thatunlesstheCounciladoptsrulespursuanttothis
subsection,thistitleshallapplytotheCouncil.”.
(4)Anew subsection(h)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(h)ThistitleshallnotapplytoameetingbetweenmembersoftheCouncilandthe
Mayor;provided,thatnoofficialactionisdecidedatthemeeting.”.
(c)Section406(D.C.OfficialCode§2-576)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Exceptforemergency
apublicbodyshallprovide”andinsertingthephrase“Apublicbodyshallattemptto
nitsplace.
(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,”initsplace.
(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”andinsertingtheword“recorded”initsplace.(e)Section40%a)(D.C.OfficialCode§ 2-579(a))isamendedbystrikingthephrase
“Councilmeetings”andinsertingthephrase“meetingsandgatheringsofcouncilmembers”inits
place.
See.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovaloftheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
asprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02()(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
Ue ;
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
UNSIGNED
MayorDistrictofColumbiaJUNE 26, 2025
[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[DaACTION
[X]VOTEDATE
[X]VOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE~Resutt
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FirstReading
April1,2025
Approved
Allen,andLewisGeorge
[CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson|X Henderson x Pinto x
‘Alen x LewisGeorge x White
Bonds MeDutfe
Felder Nadeau
Frumin Parker
X-IndicateVoto ‘AB~Absent NV-Prosent,NotVoting Roc-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
boDate
DocketNo,826-0200
[ ]ITEM ON CONSENT CALENDAR
[X]ACTION FinalReading
[x]VOTEDATE June3,2028
[x1VOICEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST Allen,andLewisGeorge
ABSENT Pinto
[ ]ROLLCALL VOTE —Result
[CouncilMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec[CouncilMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CouncitMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson]X Hendersonx Pinto x
‘Allen x LewisGeorge x R.White x
Bonds MeDufie x
Felder Nadeau
Frumin Parker
X-IndicateVoto ‘ABAbsent NV-Prosent,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
Geese
SecretarytoTheGouncl Date