SB1736 HFLR Page 1
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1736 By: Weaver of the Senate
and
Lawson of the House
An Act relating to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act;
amending 25 O.S. 2021, Section 304, as amended by
Section 1, Chapter 123, O.S.L. 2022 (25 O.S. Supp.
2023, Section 304), which relates to definitions;
modifying definition; and declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 25 O.S. 2021, Section 304, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 123 , O.S.L. 2022 (25 O.S. Supp. 2023,
Section 304), is amended to read as follows:
Section 304. As used in the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act:
1. “Public body” means the governing bodies of all
municipalities located within this state, boards of county
commissioners of the counties in this state, boards of public and
higher education in this sta te and all boards, bureaus, commissions,
agencies, trusteeships, a uthorities, councils, committees, public
trusts or any entity created by a public trust including any
SB1736 HFLR Page 2
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
committee or subcommittee composed of any of the members of a public
trust or other legal entity receiving funds from the Rural Economic
Action Plan Fund as authorized by Section 2007 of Title 62 of the
Oklahoma Statutes, task forces or study groups in this s tate
supported in whole or in part by public funds or entrusted with the
expending of public funds, or administering public property, and
shall include all committees or subcommittees of any public body.
Public body shall not include :
a. the state judiciary,
b. the Council on Judicial Complaints when conducting,
discussing, or deliberating any matter relating to a
complaint received or filed with the Co uncil,
c. the Legislature, or
d. administrative staffs of public bodies including , but
not limited to, faculty meetings and athletic staff
meetings of institutions of higher education when
those staffs are not meeting with the public body, or
entry-year assistance committees. Furthermore, public
body shall not include the ,
e. multidisciplinary teams provided for in Section 1-9-
102 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, in Section
2 10-115 of this act Title 43A of the Oklahoma
Statutes, and in subsection C of Section 1-502.2 of
Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes or any school board
SB1736 HFLR Page 3
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
meeting for the sole purpose of considering
recommendations of a multidisciplinary team and
deciding the placement of any child who is the subject
of the recommendations . Furthermore, public body
shall not include,
f. meetings conducted by stewards designated by the
Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission pursuant to Section
203.4 of Title 3A of the Oklahoma Statutes when the
stewards are officiating at races or otherwise
enforcing rules of the Commission. Furthermore,
public body shall not include ,
g. the board of directors of a Federally Qualified Health
Center, or
h. the State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision
established pursuant to Section 2 -9-116 of Title 10A
of the Oklahoma Statutes;
2. “Meeting” means the conduct of business of a public body by
a majority of its members be ing personally together or, as
authorized by Section 307.1 of this title, together pursuant to a
videoconference. Meeting shall not include informal g atherings of a
majority of the members of the public body when no business of the
public body is discusse d;
3. “Regularly scheduled meeting ” means a meeting at which the
regular business of the public body is conducted;
SB1736 HFLR Page 4
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
4. “Special meeting” means any meeting of a public body other
than a regularly scheduled meeting or emergency meeting;
5. “Emergency meeting” means any meeting called for the purpose
of dealing with an emergency. For purposes of the Oklahoma Open
Meeting Act, an emergency is defined as a situation involving injury
to persons or injury and damage to public or personal property or
immediate financial loss when the time requirements for public
notice of a special meeting would make such procedure impractical
and increase the likelihood of in jury or damage or immediate
financial loss;
6. “Continued or reconvened meeting ” means a meeting which i s
assembled for the purpose of finishing business appearing on an
agenda of a previous meeting. For the purposes of the Oklahoma Open
Meeting Act, only matters on the agenda of the previous meeting at
which the announcement of the continuance is made may be discussed
at a continued or reconvened meeting;
7. “Videoconference” means a conference among members of a
public body remote from one another who are linked by interactive
telecommunication devices or technology and/or technology permitting
both visual and auditory communication between and among members of
the public body and/or between and among members of the public body
and members of the public . During any videoconference, both the
visual and auditory communications functions shall attempt to be
utilized; and
SB1736 HFLR Page 5
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
8. “Teleconference” means a conference among members of a
public body remote from one another who are linked by
telecommunication device s and/or technology permitting auditory
communication between and among members of the public body and/or
between and among members of the public body and members of the
public.
SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservatio n
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT, dated
03/26/2024 - DO PASS.