KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to District of Columbia

B26-0633 • 2025

Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Mendelson
Last action
2026-06-18
Official status
Under Congressional Review
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the act applies as of March 29, 2026 (Section 4), but also notes it takes effect after a 30-day congressional review period following Mayor approval or veto override. The exact effective date depends on when those events occur.

Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

This temporary law clarifies what counts as a public meeting in Washington, D.C., adds exceptions for safety briefings and talks between the Mayor and Council members if no decisions are made, and updates rules on how meetings must be open to the public.

What This Bill Does

  • Clarifies that a 'meeting' includes any gathering of a quorum where members discuss or advise on public business, but excludes chance social gatherings (unless held to avoid the law) and press conferences.
  • Allows closed sessions for discussions about potential terrorist threats or dangers to public health if no official action is taken during the meeting.
  • Exempts meetings between Council members and the Mayor from open meeting rules as long as no official decisions are made at those talks.
  • States that a meeting is considered open if steps are taken to allow the public to view or hear it, or as soon as reasonably practicable if live streaming is not technologically feasible.
  • Adds the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to the list of groups covered by these laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public bodies and boards in Washington, D.C., including committees where votes are taken on public business.
  • The District of Columbia Council members when they meet with each other or with the Mayor.
  • Staff members, legal counsel, law enforcement officials, and emergency service officials who provide briefings to public groups regarding safety threats.

Terms To Know

Quorum
The minimum number of members required to be present for a group to conduct official business or make decisions, as referenced in the definition of a meeting.
Public Body
Any government committee, board, commission, or council covered by this act that makes rules or spends public money in Washington, D.C.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law is temporary and will expire exactly 225 days after it officially takes effect.
  • The exact date the law becomes active depends on when Congress finishes its review period following approval by the Mayor or a Council veto override.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-18 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress, Projected Law Date is Aug 01, 2026

  2. 2026-06-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0331 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 008185

  3. 2026-05-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0331

  4. 2026-05-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  5. 2026-05-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on May 29, 2026

  6. 2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  8. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2026-03-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0633 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT.
D.C. ACT 26-331
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,
MAY 30, 2026
‘Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theOpenMeetingsActtoclarifythedefinitionofmeeting,toprovideforapublicbody’sabilitytobebriefedaboutpotentialterroristorpublichealththreatssolongasnoofficialactionistaken,toexemptfromtheactmeetingsbetweentheCouncilandtheMayorprovidedthatnoofficialactionistakenatsuchmeetings,andto
providethatameetingshallbedeemedopentothepublicifthepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictovieworhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologicallyfeasible,assoonthereafteras
reasonablypracticable;andtoamendsection5710ofTitle3oftheDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulationstofurtherclarifytheapplicabilitydateforexpandedfinancial
reportingrequirementsforcertainboardsandcommissions.
BEITENACTEDBY THECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“OpenMeetingsClarificationTemporaryAmendmentActof2026”.
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”meansanygatheringofa quorumofthemembersofa public
body,includinghearingsandroundtables,whetherformalorinformal,regular,special,otemergency,atwhichthemembersconsider,conduct,oradviseonpublicbusiness,includinggatheringinformation,takingtestimony,discussing,deliberating,recommending,andvoting,regardlessofwhetherheldinperson,bytelephone,electronically,orbyothermeansofcommunication.“(B)Theterm“meeting”shallnotinclude:“()A chanceorsocialgathering;provided,thatitisnotheldtoavoidtheprovisionsofthisparagraph;or“(i)Apressconference.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(C)ForthepurposesoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbia,theterm
“meeting”meansaregularoradditionallegislativemeeting,andcommitteemeetingswhere
votesaretaken.”.
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(E)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”and
insertingasemicoloninitsplace;
(B)Subparagraph(F)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodattheendand
insertingthephrase“;or”in itsplace.
(C)A newsubparagraph(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)Anewparagraph(4)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(4)Thepublicbodytakesstepsreasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictoview
orhearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,or,ifdoingsoisnottechnologically
feasible,as soon thereafteras reasonablypracticable.”.
(2)Subsection(b)(8)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
(8)Todiscussandtakeactionregardingspecificmethodsandproceduresto
protectthepublicor a publicbody from existingor potentialterroristactivityor othersubstantial
dangerstopublichealthandsafety,ortoreceivebriefingsbystaffmembers,legalcounsel,law
enforcementofficials,oremergencyserviceofficialsconcerningthesemethodsandprocedures;
provided,thatdisclosurecouldendangerthepublicorthepublicbody;”.
(3)Subsection(f)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
*()Notwithstandinganyprovisionofthisact,theCouncilmayadoptitsownrulesto
ensuretheDistrict'sopenmeetingspolicy,asestablishedinsection402,ismetwithrespectto
gatheringsofcouncilmembers;provided,thatunlesstheCounciladoptsrulespursuanttothis
subsection,thistitleshallapply totheCouncil.”
(4)A newsubsection(h)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(h)ThistitleshallnotapplytoameetingbetweenmembersoftheCouncilandthe
Mayor;provided,thatnoofficialactionisdecidedatthemeeting.”.
(c)Section406 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-576)isamended as follows:
(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Exceptforemergency
meetings,apublicbodyshallprovide”andinsertingthephrase“Apublicbodyshallattemptto
provide”initsplace.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Notwithstandingthenotice
requirementofparagraph(2)ofthissubsection,except”andinsertingtheword“Except”inits
place.
(3)Paragraph(4)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“urgentmatter,”andinserting
thephrase“urgentmatter,andnotwithstandingparagraphs(1)and(3)ofthissubsection,”inits
place.
(@ Section407(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-577(a))isamendedasfollows:
(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(1)Reasonablearrangementsaremadetoaccommodatethepublic’srightto
attendthemeeting,or stepsaretakenthatarereasonablycalculatedtoallowthepublictoview or
tohearthemeetingwhilethemeetingistakingplace,ot,ifdoingsoisnottechnologically
feasible,assoonthereafterasreasonablypracticable;”.
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“takenbyrollcall”and
insertingtheword “recorded”in itsplace.
(c)Section409(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-579(a))isamendedbystrikingthephrase
“Councilmeetings”andinsertingthephrase“meetingsandgatheringsofcouncilmembers”inits
place.
Sec.3.Section5710.3of Title3 oftheDistrictof Columbia MunicipalRegulations(3
DCMR § 5170.3)isamended toreadas follows:
“5710.3.This sectionshallnotapplybeforeOctober 17,2026.”.
Sec.4.Applicability.This actshallapply as of March 29, 2026.
See.5.Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof theBudget Directorasthe fiscalimpact
statementrequiredby section4a of theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038;D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.6.Effectivedate.(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovaloftheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approved

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
December24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(¢)(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.

Chairman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia
UNSIGNED
MayorDistrictofColumbiaMAY 29, 2026

1ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR:
[XJACTION
[DX]VOTEDATE
[X]VOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[}ROLLCALLVOTE~Result
COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FirstReading
March31,2028
‘Approved
Allon,LewisGeorge,andT.White

(GounciMember [Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Ree]CounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec]CouncilMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
‘ChalmanMendelson]X Feumin x Pinto x
Alen x Heneerson x R.White
Bonds LewisGeorge x White x
Crawtord Nadeau x
Felder Parker x
X-IndicateVote ABAbsent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
wet totheCoundl wpe ee
DocketNo.826-0699
[ ]ITEMON CONSENT CALENDAR:
IXACTION FinalReading
(X]VOTEDATE May6,2026
ixivomcevore ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST Allen,andLewisGeorge
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE-Result

oe ahColne E
[CounciiMember[Aye[Ney[NV[AB[Rec[GounciMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendetson]x Frumin x Pinto
Allen x Henderson x White
LewisGeorge x T.White
Nadeau x
Patker x
AB Absent NVPresent,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD “19-3Date