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Public Meetings Public Entities

Roetzel & Andress

Ohio Supreme Court Restores the Presumption of Regularity for Executive Session Deliberations

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Public bodies rejoiced over the Ohio Supreme Court’s opinion in State of Ohio ex rel. Christopher Hicks v. Clermont County Board of Commissioners this past holiday season. The largely contentious case drew statewide attention...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

Ohio Supreme Court willing to “presume” proper conduct in executive session

Bricker Graydon LLP on

The Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) requires Ohio’s public entities to conduct all deliberations and make all decisions in meetings that are open to the public. However, a public body can meet in executive session to discuss...more

Miller Canfield

Michigan AG: Public Bodies Must Offer Reasonable Accommodations Under the ADA Which Could Include a Remote Participation Option...

Miller Canfield on

On February 4, 2022, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel opined that the Americans with Disabilities Act (the "ADA") requires public bodies to afford an individual with a disability a reasonable accommodation to participate...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Is California’s Open Meetings Law a ‘Long Haul’ COVID-19 Victim?

New Law Permits Local Governments to Continue to Meet Remotely Until 2024 - California’s historic open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires that local governments conduct their business in public meetings and...more

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

New Law Authorizes Virtual Option for Public Meetings

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

On September 2, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S.50001/A.40001), which includes a number of statutory protections and other emergency public health measures adopted in response to the recent increase in the...more

Jackson Walker

Governor Abbott Lifts Suspension of Certain Texas Open Meetings Act Provisions

Jackson Walker on

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 16, 2020, at the Attorney General’s request, Governor Greg Abbott utilized Section 418.016 of the Government Code to suspend certain requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

Municipalities: The end of the virtual public meeting? All is not lost

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of public entities had to continue. Amended Substitute House Bill 197 made that possible, by modifying the requirements of R.C. 121.22 to permit public bodies to meet by...more

Franczek P.C.

First Quarter 2021 Illinois FOIA & OMA Update

Franczek P.C. on

PRE-DECISIONAL & DELIBERATIVE PROCESS UPDATES U.S. - SUPREME COURT DECISION - On March 4, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in United States Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club addressing the “deliberative...more

Miller Canfield

Authority to Hold Electronic Meetings Under Michigan Open Meetings Act Now Limited

Miller Canfield on

On March 30, 2021, the authority for Michigan public bodies to hold electronic "virtual" meetings for any reason under the Michigan Open Meetings Act ("OMA") expired. Thus, starting on March 31, 2021, and continuing until...more

Miller Canfield

Michigan Legislature Passes Open Meetings Act Amendment Allowing Electronic Public Meetings

Miller Canfield on

On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, the Michigan Legislature adopted amendments to the Open Meetings Act (the "OMA"), which would have immediate effect upon signature by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.  Senate Bill 1108...more

Franczek P.C.

New OMA Requirements for Virtual Meetings Are Now Law

Franczek P.C. on

On Friday, June 12, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Public Act 101-640,?which, among other things, amends the Open Meetings Act to allow public bodies to hold virtual board meetings without the physical presence of a...more

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Standing And The Open Meetings Law

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

A popular topic on this blog is standing in the context of a challenge to a municipal determination, primarily under the State Environmental Quality Review Act.   A recent case issued by the Appellate Division, Second...more

Franczek P.C.

The Top Five Takeaways from the Public Access Counselor’s 2019 Binding Opinions

Franczek P.C. on

The Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor was once again busy during 2019, issuing binding decisions of interest to public entities governed by the Illinois Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act....more

Best Best & Krieger LLP

No Committee Exception to Brown Act Public Comment Requirement for Special Meetings - California Appellate Court Decision in...

While the Ralph M. Brown Act provides a “committee exception” to the public comment requirement for public entities’ regular meetings, the exception does not apply to special meetings, a California appellate court said in a...more

Franczek P.C.

Illinois Attorney General Supports Right of the Public to Criticize Board Members at Public Meetings

Franczek P.C. on

In a recent nonbinding letter, the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor reportedly requested that public boards allow members of the public to speak about concerns with the conduct of specific board members. ...more

Best Best & Krieger LLP

Public Entities Can Limit Public Comment Speaking Time at Meetings - California Appellate Court Finds Limit Did Not Violate Brown...

Public entities can place reasonable time restrictions on public comment at their meetings as long as the time restrictions do not violate state or federal law, a California appellate court said in a fairly sweeping decision....more

Pullman & Comley - School Law

Loose Lips Sink Ships: The Limits of the Attorney-Client Privilege and the Dangers of “Public” Reliance Upon Your Attorney’s...

Public agencies often secure opinions from legal counsel to guide their actions. However, these agencies should be aware that what they say in public about the advice given may jeopardize the confidentiality of the legal...more

Pullman & Comley - School Law

Tales From The Green Room: My FOIA Book, My Television Interview and Why Public Agencies Should Care

On June 7th, 2014, I had the good fortune of being the guest on Focus on Connecticut, which is a weekly, half-hour public affairs show on “News 12 Connecticut.” The show is hosted by Tom Appleby, a veteran news journalist in...more

Nexsen Pruet, PLLC

South Carolina Supreme Court Rules in FOIA Case - Public Policy & Governmental Affairs Alert

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The South Carolina Supreme Court recently issued an opinion in Lambries v Saluda County Council. The high court ruled that nothing in the Freedom of Information Act prohibits a public body from adding an agenda item(s)...more

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