Mississippi Senate Bill SB2671

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Open Meetings Law; require official meetings to be broadcast via video livestream applications, with exceptions.

Impact

The enactment of this bill will have a significant impact on how public bodies operate in Mississippi. By requiring meetings to be livestreamed, the bill seeks to eliminate barriers for public participation and improve civic engagement in government proceedings. Additionally, any action taken by a public body that fails to comply with the new livestreaming requirements would be deemed void and without effect. This provision emphasizes the necessity for adherence to the public access rules, which proponents argue will lead to more responsible governance and accountability from public officials.

Summary

Senate Bill 2671 aims to amend Section 25-41-5 of the Mississippi Code by introducing new requirements for the official meetings of certain public bodies. The primary focus of the bill is to ensure that public meetings are broadcast via video livestreaming applications and displayed on the official website of each agency. This is designed to enhance transparency and accessibility for citizens, allowing them to participate in governance from remote locations. The bill specifies that public notices must also include information on how to access the livestream, ensuring that residents are informed of upcoming meetings and the agenda of discussions.

Conclusion

In summary, Senate Bill 2671 is a legislative effort to modernize the way public meetings are conducted in Mississippi by adding livestreaming requirements. While it aims to bolster transparency and public engagement, the bill will need to address potential concerns raised by small public bodies about resource constraints and the implications of declaring certain meetings void if livestreaming is not performed.

Contention

Despite its goals of fostering transparency and increasing public access to government, SB2671 may face contention regarding its implementation. Critics could argue that the requirement for livestreaming might impose an undue burden on certain smaller public bodies that may lack the necessary resources or technical capabilities. There is a possibility that this could discourage meetings from occurring altogether if compliance seems too challenging. Furthermore, the exceptions laid out in the legislation that exempt certain government entities from these requirements could lead to calls for uniform standards across all levels of government.