Governor Healey Extends Remote Meeting Flexibility For Public Bodies

On March 29, 2023, Governor Maura Healey signed into law a bill that extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law through March 31, 2025.

Specifically, this extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location. Public bodies that meet remotely must still provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote meetings. In prior guidance, the Office of the Attorney General explained that this requirement is met by any technology that provides public access to a meeting in real time, whether it be by telephone, internet, or satellite enabled audio or video conferencing.

This extension was included in the Governor’s supplemental budget and did not include any substantive changes to the Open Meeting Law other than extending the expiration of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from March 31, 2023 to March 31, 2025.

If you have any questions about the content of this update, please contact us. We are pleased to assist public bodies in all matters relating to the Open Meeting Law.

This update is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.