DE Under 3: Behind the Scenes of EEOC’s Full Commission Hearing
Government in the Virtual World: A Look at Public Meetings and Hearings
Ethics Laws and the Importance of Transparency for Public Officials
The Florida Legislature recently amended Section 255.065, Florida Statutes (P3 Law) pursuant to House Bill (HB) 781, which is expected to become effective on July 1, 2024. HB 781 provides responsible public entities (e.g.,...more
There is not a public servant, employee, or trustee who doesn’t have a war story regarding an unruly public meeting or hearing gone wild. Perhaps it was just a quirky public comment. Maybe it’s a viral comment from a public...more
The Illinois Public Access Counselor (PAC) issued a binding opinion, finding a school board violated the Open Meetings Act (OMA) when it improperly discussed school curriculum during closed session....more
Early this year, the Illinois Appellate Court issued an opinion responding to challenges asserted under the Open Meetings Act (OMA) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Appellate Court held that the Village of Oak...more
In Coleman v. Parkland Sch. Dist., 2023 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 187, at *10 (Commw. Ct. Nov. 8, 2023), a divided Commonwealth Court concluded that the recently enacted Section 712.1 of the Sunshine Act does not permit local...more
In a recent binding opinion, the PAC found a public body in violation of the Open Meetings Act (OMA) for restricting the content of public comment where a member of the public attempted to discuss the District’s hiring...more
Governor Pritzker recently signed into law Public Act 103-0311 (previously HB 2447), which amends two key provisions in the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) effective as of July 28, 2023....more
In the First Session of the 113th General Assembly, Tennessee legislators sponsored numerous bills that impacted local governments in some measure. Due to this uptick in legislative activity, the Bass, Berry & Sims Public...more
In its recent decision, Hindelang v. City of Grosse Pointe, the Michigan Court of Appeals (“Court”) has offered clarification and some helpful reminders for compliance with the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”). In a case involving...more
Recently, the Public Access Counselor (PAC) issued a new binding opinion concerning the Open Meetings Act (OMA). In the opinion, the PAC determined that three city council members did not violate the OMA when they exchanged...more
In a busy Legislative Session, one bill passed that may go unnoticed, but will be of help to Boards of Education. Through House Bill 3146, the Legislature adopted the Uniform Public Meetings During Emergencies Act (“the...more
In today's world of technology and communications, communities are increasingly reaching their residents and marketing their services through social media. It has become common for cities, villages, and nearly all forms of...more
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
In late April, the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments in State of Ohio ex rel. Christopher Hicks v. Clermont County Board of Commissioners, a largely contentious Open Meetings Act (OMA) appeal that may intensify public...more
Governor Inslee’s March 24, 2022 signing of House Bill 1329 marks the introduction of changes to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), the focus of which concerns public meetings’ accessibility and participation in the same....more
On Wednesday, February 9, the Ohio House concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 51. Of particular interest is an uncodified provision authorizing public meetings to be held by teleconference, video conference or other...more
New York State public bodies subject to the Open Meetings Law must now post on their website, or provide upon request, “at least 24 hours” prior to any public meetings, any documents that will be discussed or considered...more
On Oct. 19, 2021, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S.1150-A/A.1228-A), amending the Open Meetings Law to require public agencies to post on their websites and make available any agency records scheduled to be discussed...more
Vector illustration of a pattern of small marijuana leaves on a green map of New York. New York’s Cannabis Control Board (the “Board”) held its first public meeting today, kicking off a series of public meetings that will...more
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
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
With the effective date of recent amendments to Pennsylvania’s open meetings law, commonly known as the Sunshine Act, rapidly approaching on August 29, 2021, Pennsylvania public agencies, including but not limited to School...more
Beginning on December 1, 2022, Nevada public employers will have new limitations placed on certain common elements contained in employment contracts. Governor Sisolak recently signed Assembly Bill 385 into law, prohibiting a...more
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
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rhode Island public bodies have been authorized to meet remotely pursuant to Executive Orders issued by the Rhode Island Governor’s Office...more