Oklahoma House Bill HB2038

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21

Caption

Open Meeting Act; videoconferences and teleconferences; notice; emergency.

Impact

The modification enshrined in HB 2038 supports a more flexible approach to holding meetings, particularly relevant in the context of public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. By allowing public bodies to conduct meetings through videoconferencing, the bill addresses accessibility concerns, aiming to encourage participation from members of the public by providing additional means to engage with their elected officials. It requires that members participate from locations accessible to the public, further promoting transparency.

Summary

House Bill 2038 aims to amend existing provisions related to the Open Meetings Act concerning the use of videoconferencing and teleconferencing for public bodies in Oklahoma. The bill allows public bodies to hold meetings through virtual means while ensuring that each member is audible and visible to each other and the public. Notably, the bill establishes protocols for electronic meetings that include notice requirements for maintaining public access to meetings conducted remotely.

Contention

During legislative discussions, some points of contention arose regarding the bill's provisions, particularly around the requirements for public bodies to give adequate notice of meetings and the methods by which public participation would be facilitated. The bill emphasizes that all materials shared electronically during these meetings must remain accessible to the public, which raises discussions on compliance and the implementation of such accessibility measures. Although the bill has support for increasing accessibility, there are concerns regarding the impact on in-person attendance and participation in the long term.