As of July 1, 2021, public entities must take care to conduct their public meetings and public business in-person, as was the norm prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While House Bill 404 extended to July 1, 2021, the prior authorization for public officials to conduct public meetings through electronic or virtual means during the COVID-19 pandemic, that authorization was not extended by the recently passed House Bill 110, the state budget bill.

Thus, as of July 1, public meetings must be held in person and a board member can no longer be considered as part of the quorum or vote through virtual or electronic means. There is no prohibition for a board member to attend a regular or special board meeting by telephone or by virtual means to listen and participate in the board’s discussion.