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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-361
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
JULY 14, 2026
ToamendtheOpenMeetingsActtoclarifythedefinitionofmeeting,toprovideforapublicbody’sabilitytobebriefedaboutpotentialterroristorpublichealththreatssolongasnoofficialactionistaken,toexempt from the actmeetings between the Council and the
Mayorprovidedthatnoofficialactionistakenatsuchmeetings,andtoprovidethata
meetingshallbedeemedopentothepublicifthepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistaking
place,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable,
BE ITENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmaybecitedasthe“OpenMeetingsClarificationAmendmentActof2026”.
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:“(I(A)“Meeting”meansanygatheringofaquorumofthemembersofa publicbody,includinghearingsandroundtables,whetherformalorinformal,regular,special,or
emergency,atwhichthemembersconsider,conduct,oradviseonpublicbusiness,including
gatheringinformation,takingtestimony,discussing,deliberating,recommending,andvoting,regardlesswhetherheldinperson,bytelephone,electronically,orbyothermeansofcommunication.“(B)Theterm“meeting”shallnotinclude:“@Achanceorsocialgathering;provided,thatitisnotheldtoavoidtheprovisionsofthisparagraph;or“@i)A pressconference.“(C)ForthepurposesoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbia(“Council”),theterm“meeting”meansaregularoradditionallegislativemeeting,andcommitteemeetingswherevotesaretaken.”.
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedasfollows:
{
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(A)Subparagraph(E)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”and
insertinga semicoloninitsplace;
(B)Subparagraph(F)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodandinsertingthe
itsplace.
(C)Anewsubparagraph(G)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
*(G)TheCriminalJusticeCoordinatingCouncil.”.
(b)Section405 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-575)isamended as follows:
(1)Subsection(a)isamended as follows:
(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)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(8)Todiscussandtakeactionregardingspecificmethodsandproceduresto
protectthepublicorapublicbodyfromexistingorpotentialterroristactivityorothersubstantial
dangerstopublichealthandsafety,ortoreceivebriefingsbystaffmembers,legalcounsel,law
enforcementofficials,oremergencyserviceofficialsconcerningthesemethodsandprocedures;
provided,thatdisclosurecouldendangerthepublicorthepublicbody;”
(3)Subsection(f)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“()Notwithstandinganyprovisionofthisact,theCouncilmayadoptitsownrulesto
ensuretheDistrict’sopen meetingspolicy,as establishedinsection402,ismet with respectto
gatheringsofcouncilmembers;provided,thatunlesstheCounciladoptsrulespursuanttothis
subsection,thistitleshallapplytotheCouncil.”
(4)A newsubsection(h)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(h)ThistitleshallnotapplytoameetingbetweenmembersoftheCouncilandthe
Mayor; provided,thatno officialactionisdecidedatthemeeting.”.
(c)Section406 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-576)isamended as follows:
(1)Theexistingtextisdesignatedassubsection(a).
(2)Subsection(a)isamended as follows:
(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Exceptfor
apublicbodyshallprovide”andinsertingthephrase“Apublicbodyshall
initsplace.
(B)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase"Notwithstandingthe
noticerequirementofparagraph(2)ofthissubsection,except”andinsertingtheword“Except”
initsplace.
phrase“
emergencymeeti
attempttoprovid
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(C)Paragraph(4)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“urgentmatter,”and
insertingthephrase“urgentmatter,andnotwithstandingparagraphs(1)and(3)ofthis
subsection,”initsplace.
(3)Anew subsection(b)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
*(b)(1)ForthepurposesoftheCouncil,theappropriateofficeroftheCouncilshall
providenoticepursuanttoparagraph(3)ofthissubsectionwhenagatheringofaquorumofthe
Councilthatisnototherwiserequiredby law or ruletobe noticedinadvance tookplace,at
whichCouncilmembersconsideredpublicbusiness,regardlesswhetherthegatheringwasheldin
person,bytelephone,orbyvideoconference,andthegatheringofCouncilmemberswasnot
noticedinadvance.
“(2)The convenerof a gatheringof Councilmembers thatmeets thenotice
requirementinparagraph(1)ofthissubsectionshallnotifytheappropriateCouncilofficerwithin
24businesshoursafterthegatheringandprovidetheinformationrequiredbyparagraph(3)(B)
ofthissubsection.
(3)Noticeprovidedpursuanttoparagraph(1)ofthissubsectionshall:
“(A)BepostedbytheCouncilonthewebsiteoftheCouncilnolaterthan
24businesshoursafterreceivingnoticethatagatheringofCouncilmemberstookplace;and
“(B)Includethedateandapproximatetimethegatheringof
Councilmemberstookplace,andthetopicofthegathering.”.
(d)Section407(D.C.OfficialCode§2-577)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Subsection(a)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(1)Reasonablearrangementsaremade toaccommodate thepublic’srightto
attendthemeeting,orstepsaretakenthatarereasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictoviewor
hearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,orifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,
as soon thereafteras reasonablypracticable;”.
(B)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“takenbyrollcall”
andinsertingtheword“recorded”initsplace.
(2)Subsection(c)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“E-mailexchanges”and
insertingthephrase“E-mailexchangesandtextmessages”initsplace.
(e)Section409(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-579(a))isamendedbystrikingthephrase
“Councilmeetings”andinsertingthephrase“meetingsandgatheringsofcouncilmembers”inits
place.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovaloftheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
asprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
llOE—‘hairman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia
UNSIGNED
MayorDistrictofColumbiaJULY 1, 2026
COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
DocketNo.826-0208
[]TEMONCONSENTCALENDAR:
[x]ACTION FirstReading
DQVOTEDATE ‘June2,2028
DevoicevoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST Allon,andLewisGeorge
ABSENT Parker
[JROLLCALLVOTE—Result
CouncilMember Aye |Nay|NV_|AB |Rec| CouncilMember | Aye |Nay|NV_|AB [Rec| CouncilMember | Aye| Nay |NV_|AB_|Rec
ChairmanMendeison|x Framin x Pinto
Alen x Henderson|X White
Bonds x LewisGeorge x white
Craword x Nadeau x
Felder x Pater x
X--IndicateVote ABAbsent NYPresent,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD Ls Bo UhSreeToteCouned Date
DocketNo,B26-0208
[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[action FinalReading
[X]VOTEDATE June23,2026
[X]VOICEvoTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST Allen,andLewisGeorge
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE-Result
CouncilMember[Aye[NayNV [AB[Rec]CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Reo[GounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Ree
ChairmanMendelson)X Frumin x Pinto x
Allen x Henderson| x R.White x
Bonds x LewisGeorge x T.White x
Crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker
X-IndicateVote ‘AB~Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Roc-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD L.32-%ety0TheCoane =