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AN ACT
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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To amend, on a temporary basis, the Open Meetings Act to clarify the definition of meeting, to
provide for a public body’s ability to be briefed about potential terrorist or public health
threats so long as no official action is taken, to exempt from the act meetings between the
Council and the Mayor provided that no official action is taken at such meetings, and to
provide that a meeting shall be deemed open to the public if the public body takes steps
reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or hear the meeting while the meeting is
taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as
reasonably practicable; and to amend section 5710 of Title 3 of the District of Columbia
Municipal Regulations to further clarify the applicability date for expanded financial
reporting requirements for certain boards and commissions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act may be cited as the “Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026”.
Sec. 2. The Open Meetings Act, effective March 31, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-350; D.C.
Official Code § 2-571 et seq.), is amended as follows:
(a) Section 404 (D.C. Official Code § 2-574) is amended as follows:
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows:
“(1)(A) “Meeting” means any gathering of a quorum of the members of a public
body, including hearings and roundtables, whether formal or informal, regular, special, or
emergency, at which the members consider, conduct, or advise on public business, including
gathering information, taking testimony, discussing, deliberating, recommending, and voting,
regardless of whether held in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of
communication.
“(B) The term “meeting” shall not include:
“(i) A chance or social gathering; provided, that it is not held to
avoid the provisions of this paragraph; or
“(ii) A press conference.
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“(C) For the purposes of the Council of the District of Columbia, the term
“meeting” means a regular or additional legislative meeting, and committee meetings where
votes are taken.”.
(2) Paragraph (3) is amended as follows:
(A) Subparagraph (E) is amended by striking the phrase “; or” and
inserting a semicolon in its place;
(B) Subparagraph (F) is amended by striking the period at the end and
inserting the phrase “; or” in its place.
(C) A new subparagraph (G) is added to read as follows:
“(G) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.”.
(b) Section 405 (D.C. Official Code § 2-575) is amended as follows:
(1) Subsection (a) is amended as follows:
(A) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “; or” and inserting a
semicolon in its place.
(B) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “televised.” and
inserting the phrase “televised; or” in its place.
(C) A new paragraph (4) is added to read as follows:
“(4) The public body takes steps reasonably calculated to allow the public to view
or hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically
feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable.”.
(2) Subsection (b)(8) is amended to read as follows:
“(8) To discuss and take action regarding specific methods and procedures to
protect the public or a public body from existing or potential terrorist activity or other substantial
dangers to public health and safety, or to receive briefings by staff members, legal counsel, law
enforcement officials, or emergency service officials concerning these methods and procedures;
provided, that disclosure could endanger the public or the public body;”.
(3) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows:
“(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this act, the Council may adopt its own rules to
ensure the District’s open meetings policy, as established in section 402, is met with respect to
gatherings of councilmembers; provided, that unless the Council adopts rules pursuant to this
subsection, this title shall apply to the Council.”.
(4) A new subsection (h) is added to read as follows:
“(h) This title shall not apply to a meeting between members of the Council and the
Mayor; provided, that no official action is decided at the meeting.”.
(c) Section 406 (D.C. Official Code § 2-576) is amended as follows:
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended by striking the phrase “Except for emergency
meetings, a public body shall provide” and inserting the phrase “A public body shall attempt to
provide” in its place.
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(2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “Notwithstanding the notice
requirement of paragraph (2) of this subsection, except” and inserting the word “Except” in its
place.
(3) Paragraph (4) is amended by striking the phrase “urgent matter,” and inserting
the phrase “urgent matter, and notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (3) of this subsection,” in its
place.
(d) Section 407(a) (D.C. Official Code § 2-577(a)) is amended as follows:
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows:
“(1) Reasonable arrangements are made to accommodate the public’s right to
attend the meeting, or steps are taken that are reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or
to hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically
feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable;”.
(2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “taken by roll call” and
inserting the word “recorded” in its place.
(e) Section 409(a) (D.C. Official Code § 2-579(a)) is amended by striking the phrase
“Council meetings” and inserting the phrase “meetings and gatherings of councilmembers” in its
place.
Sec. 3. Section 5710.3 of Title 3 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (3
DCMR § 5170.3) is amended to read as follows:
“5710.3. This section shall not apply before October 17, 2026.”.
Sec. 4. Applicability.
This act shall apply as of March 29, 2026.
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 6. Effective date.
(a) This act shall take effect following approval of the Mayor (or in the event of veto by
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional
review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved
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December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
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Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
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Mayor
District of Columbia