On March 18th, 2020 Governor Stitt signed into law Senate Bill 661 which temporarily modified the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to allow for teleconferencing as a method of holding public meetings that are subject to the Act. The modifications allowed under the law expired on November 15, 2020. Teleconferencing and video conferencing are still allowed under the provisions of 25 O.S. §307.1 as it existed prior to the passage of SB661. That language can be found here: https://okmunicipalattorneys.org/publication-articles/open-meeting-act-update-virtual-meetings Remote attendance may be more practical through teleconferencing in most circumstances. But in each of these options, teleconference or videoconference, a majority of the members must be present at the posted location of the meeting site. If attendance is by video conferencing, then a provision for public attendance must be made at the remote video conferencing site, and under subsection 4 the location of the videoconferencing site may be more limited to meet those requirements. The requirement to post notice of meetings at the principal office or meeting location is back in place. The public body is required to make the notice of a public meeting available to the public in the principal office of the public body or at the location of the meeting during normal business hours at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting. OML has shared that they have met with a number of policymakers and interest groups on this topic. From their communications, it is unlikely at this time that there will be a special session. OML has been negotiating a long-term remote meetings bill and if an agreement could be reached then it should sail through quickly once the legislature convenes in regular session in February. In the meantime, the pre-Senate bill 661 version of the Open Meetings Act should be observed in meetings of members of your governing bodies. OML is asking municipalities to submit their thoughts and ideas on what they want to see in the new Open Meeting/Open Records language. The primary contact to submit suggestions is Daniel McClure at OML. Information can also be shared through Beth Anne Childs with OAMA or Jeff Bryant with OMAG. Phone numbers and email addresses are contained on the website noted above. Jeff H Bryant Director of Legal Services Associate General Counsel jbryant@omag.org<mailto:jbryant@omag.org> [OMAG Small Logo Smooth] 3650 S. Boulevard Edmond, Oklahoma 73013 Phone: 405-657-1419 Fax: 405-657-1401 www.omag.org<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omag.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cksesock%40omag.org%7C7b0af7708d2145459d0008d5d005912d%7Cb13aadd514d84b918cf485be9d556ad7%7C1%7C0%7C636643644718063768&sdata=O5U4CEM0kJLxSbEQIcdB%2BtRnRqcj9gWhJquY26D8F1o%3D&reserved=0>