1 | | - | BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.59 |
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2 | | - | 2025 Page1of8 |
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3 | | - | S.59 |
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4 | | - | IntroducedbySenatorHardy |
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5 | | - | ReferredtoCommitteeonGovernmentOperations |
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6 | | - | Date:February11,2025 |
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7 | | - | Subject:Generalprovisions;commonlaw;generalrights;publicinformation; |
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8 | | - | OpenMeetingLaw |
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9 | | - | Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestoamend |
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10 | | - | Vermont’sOpenMeetingLawtostatethatannualmunicipalmeetingsand |
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11 | | - | representativetownmeetingsarenot“publicbodies”thataresubjecttothe |
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12 | | - | OpenMeetingLaw.Thisbillalsoproposestoprovidethatapublicbodymay |
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13 | | - | movetoenterexecutivesessiontodiscusstheinterestratesofpublicly |
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14 | | - | financedloans. |
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15 | | - | AnactrelatingtoamendmentstoVermont’sOpenMeetingLaw |
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16 | | - | ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont: |
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17 | | - | Sec.1.1V.S.A.§ 310isamendedtoread: |
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18 | | - | §310.DEFINITIONS |
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19 | | - | Asusedinthissubchapter: |
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20 | | - | *** |
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39 | | - | 2025 Page2of8 |
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40 | | - | (6)“Publicbody”meansanyboard,council,orcommissionoftheState |
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41 | | - | oroneormoreofitspoliticalsubdivisions,anyboard,council,orcommission |
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42 | | - | ofanyagency,authority,orinstrumentalityoftheStateoroneormoreofits |
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43 | | - | politicalsubdivisions,oranycommitteeorsubcommitteeofanyofthe |
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44 | | - | foregoingboards,councils,orcommissions,exceptthat“publicbody”does |
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45 | | - | notinclude: |
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46 | | - | (A)councilsorsimilargroupsestablishedbytheGovernorforthe |
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47 | | - | solepurposeofadvisingtheGovernorwithrespecttopolicy;or |
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48 | | - | (B)annualmunicipalorrepresentativetownmeetings. |
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49 | | - | *** |
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50 | | - | (9)“Unduehardship”meansanactionrequiredtoachievecompliance |
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51 | | - | wouldrequirerequiringsignificantdifficultyorexpensetotheunitof |
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52 | | - | governmenttowhichapublicbodybelongs,consideredinlightoffactors |
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53 | | - | includingtheoverallsizeoftheentity,sufficienttheavailabilityofnecessary |
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54 | | - | personnelandstaffingavailabilitystaff,theentity’sbudgetavailableresources, |
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55 | | - | andthecostsassociatedwithcompliance. |
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56 | | - | Sec.2.1V.S.A.§ 312isamendedtoread: |
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57 | | - | §312.RIGHTTOATTENDMEETINGSOFPUBLICAGENCIES |
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58 | | - | (a)(1)Allmeetingsofapublicbodyaredeclaredtobeopentothepublicat |
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59 | | - | alltimes,exceptasprovidedinsection313ofthistitle.Noresolution,rule, |
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60 | | - | regulation,appointment,orformalactionshallbeconsideredbindingexceptas |
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82 | | - | 2025 Page3of8 |
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83 | | - | takenormadeatsuchopenmeeting,exceptasprovidedundersubdivision |
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84 | | - | 313(a)(2)ofthistitle.Ameetingofapublicbodyissubjecttothepublic |
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85 | | - | accommodationrequirementsof9V.S.A.chapter139.Apublicbodyshall |
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86 | | - | electronicallyrecordallpublichearingsheldtoprovideaforumforpublic |
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87 | | - | commentonaproposedrule,pursuantto3V.S.A.§840.Thepublicshall |
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88 | | - | haveaccesstocopiesofsuchelectronicrecordingsasdescribedinsection316 |
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89 | | - | ofthistitle. |
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90 | | - | *** |
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91 | | - | (3)Statenonadvisorypublicbodies;hybridmeetingrequirement; |
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92 | | - | exceptionforadvisorybodies.AnypublicbodyoftheState,exceptadvisory |
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93 | | - | bodies,shall: |
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95 | | - | (5)Statenonadvisorypublicbodies;Stateandlocaladvisorybodies; |
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96 | | - | designatingelectronicplatforms.StatenonadvisoryApublicbodiesbody |
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97 | | - | meetinginahybridfashionpursuanttosubdivision(3)ofthissubsectionand |
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98 | | - | Stateandlocaladvisorybodiesmeetingwithoutaphysicalmeetinglocationor |
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99 | | - | advisorybodymeetingpursuanttosubdivision(4)ofthissubsectionshall |
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100 | | - | designateanduseanelectronicplatformthatallowsthedirectaccess, |
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101 | | - | attendance,andparticipationofthepublic,includingaccessbytelephone.The |
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102 | | - | publicbodyshallpostinformationthatenablesthepublictodirectlyaccessthe |
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122 | | - | 20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.59 |
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123 | | - | 2025 Page4of8 |
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124 | | - | designatedelectronicplatformandincludethisinformationinthepublished |
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125 | | - | agendaorpublicnoticeforthemeeting. |
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126 | | - | (6)Localnonadvisorypublicbodies;meetingrecordings. |
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127 | | - | (A)Apublicbodyofamunicipalityorpoliticalsubdivision,except |
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128 | | - | advisorybodies,shallrecord,inaudioorvideoform,anymeetingofthe |
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129 | | - | publicbodyandpostacopyoftherecordinginadesignatedelectronic |
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130 | | - | locationforaminimumof30daysfollowingtheapprovalandpostingofthe |
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131 | | - | officialminutesforameeting. |
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132 | | - | (B)Amunicipalityisexemptfromsubdivision(A)ofthis |
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133 | | - | subdivision(6)ifcompliancewouldimposeanunduehardshiponthe |
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134 | | - | municipality. |
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135 | | - | (C)Amunicipalityshallhavetheburdenofprovingthatcompliance |
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136 | | - | underthissectionwouldimposeanunduehardshiponthemunicipality. |
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137 | | - | *** |
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138 | | - | Sec.3.1V.S.A.§ 313isamendedtoread: |
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139 | | - | §313.EXECUTIVESESSIONS |
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140 | | - | (a)Nopublicbodymayholdanexecutivesessionfromwhichthepublicis |
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141 | | - | excluded,exceptbytheaffirmativevoteoftwo-thirdsofitsmemberspresent |
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142 | | - | inthecaseofanypublicbodyofStategovernmentorofamajorityofits |
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143 | | - | memberspresentinthecaseofanypublicbodyofamunicipalityorother |
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144 | | - | politicalsubdivision.Amotiontogointoexecutivesessionshallindicatethe |
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165 | | - | 21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.59 |
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166 | | - | 2025 Page5of8 |
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167 | | - | natureofthebusinessoftheexecutivesession,andnoothermattermaybe |
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168 | | - | consideredintheexecutivesession.Suchvoteshallbetakeninthecourseof |
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169 | | - | anopenmeetingandtheresultofthevoterecordedintheminutes.Noformal |
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170 | | - | orbindingactionshallbetakeninexecutivesessionexceptforactionsrelating |
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171 | | - | tothesecuringofrealestateoptionsundersubdivision(2)ofthissubsection. |
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172 | | - | Minutesofanexecutivesessionneednotbetaken,butiftheyare,theminutes |
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173 | | - | shall,notwithstandingsubsection312(b)ofthistitle,beexemptfrompublic |
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174 | | - | copyingandinspectionunderthePublicRecordsAct.Apublicbodymaynot |
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175 | | - | holdanexecutivesessionexcepttoconsideroneormoreofthefollowing: |
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177 | | - | (10)securityoremergencyresponsemeasures,thedisclosureofwhich |
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178 | | - | couldjeopardizepublicsafety;or |
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179 | | - | (11)informationrelatingtotheinterestratesforpubliclyfinancedloans. |
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180 | | - | *** |
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181 | | - | Sec.4.EFFECTIVEDATE |
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182 | | - | ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025. |
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183 | | - | Sec.1.1V.S.A.§ 310isamendedtoread: |
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184 | | - | §310.DEFINITIONS |
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185 | | - | Asusedinthissubchapter: |
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186 | | - | *** |
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187 | | - | (9)“Unduehardship”meansanactionrequiredtoachievecompliance |
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188 | | - | wouldrequirerequiringsignificantdifficultyorexpensetotheunitof |
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189 | | - | governmenttowhichapublicbodybelongs,consideredinlightoffactors |
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190 | | - | includingtheoverallsizeoftheentity,sufficienttheavailabilityofnecessary |
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206 | | - | 16 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.59 |
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207 | | - | 2025 Page6of8 |
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208 | | - | personnelandstaffingavailabilitystaff,theentity’sbudgetavailable |
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209 | | - | resources,andthecostsassociatedwithcompliance. |
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210 | | - | Sec.2.1V.S.A.§ 312isamendedtoread: |
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211 | | - | §312.RIGHTTOATTENDMEETINGSOFPUBLICAGENCIES |
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212 | | - | (a)(1)Allmeetingsofapublicbodyaredeclaredtobeopentothepublic |
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213 | | - | atalltimes,exceptasprovidedinsection313ofthistitle.Noresolution,rule, |
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214 | | - | regulation,appointment,orformalactionshallbeconsideredbindingexcept |
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215 | | - | astakenormadeatsuchopenmeeting,exceptasprovidedundersubdivision |
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216 | | - | 313(a)(2)ofthistitle.Ameetingofapublicbodyissubjecttothepublic |
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217 | | - | accommodationrequirementsof9V.S.A.chapter139.Apublicbodyshall |
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218 | | - | electronicallyrecordallpublichearingsheldtoprovideaforumforpublic |
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219 | | - | commentonaproposedrule,pursuantto3V.S.A.§840.Thepublicshall |
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220 | | - | haveaccesstocopiesofsuchelectronicrecordingsasdescribedinsection316 |
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221 | | - | ofthistitle. |
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222 | | - | *** |
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223 | | - | (3)(A)Statenonadvisorypublicbodies;hybridmeetingrequirement; |
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224 | | - | exceptionforadvisorybodies.AnypublicbodyoftheState,exceptadvisory |
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225 | | - | bodies,shall: |
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226 | | - | (A)(i)holdallregularandspecialmeetingsinahybridfashion, |
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227 | | - | whichshallincludebothadesignatedphysicalmeetinglocationanda |
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228 | | - | designatedelectronicmeetingplatform; |
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229 | | - | (B)(ii)electronicallyrecordallmeetings;and |
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230 | | - | (C)(iii)foraminimumof30daysfollowingtheapprovalandposting |
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231 | | - | oftheofficialminutesforameeting,retaintheaudiovisualrecordingandpost |
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232 | | - | therecordinginadesignatedelectroniclocation. |
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233 | | - | (B)Exception;siteinspectionsandfieldvisits.Thissubdivision(3) |
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234 | | - | shallnotapplytogatheringsofapublicbodyforpurposesofasiteinspection |
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235 | | - | orfieldvisit. |
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236 | | - | *** |
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237 | | - | (5)Statenonadvisorypublicbodies;Stateandlocaladvisorybodies; |
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238 | | - | designatingelectronicplatforms.StatenonadvisoryApublicbodiesbody |
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239 | | - | meetinginahybridfashionpursuanttosubdivision(3)ofthissubsectionand |
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240 | | - | Stateandlocaladvisorybodiesmeetingwithoutaphysicalmeetinglocationor |
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241 | | - | advisorybodymeetingpursuanttosubdivision(4)ofthissubsectionshall |
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242 | | - | designateanduseanelectronicplatformthatallowsthedirectaccess, |
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243 | | - | attendance,andparticipationofthepublic,includingaccessbytelephone. |
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244 | | - | Thepublicbodyshallpostinformationthatenablesthepublictodirectly BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.59 |
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245 | | - | 2025 Page7of8 |
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246 | | - | accessthedesignatedelectronicplatformandincludethisinformationinthe |
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247 | | - | publishedagendaorpublicnoticeforthemeeting. |
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248 | | - | (6)Localnonadvisorypublicbodies;meetingrecordings. |
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249 | | - | (A)Apublicbodyofamunicipalityorpoliticalsubdivision,except |
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250 | | - | advisorybodies,shallrecord,inaudioorvideoform,anymeetingofthepublic |
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251 | | - | bodyandpostacopyoftherecordinginadesignatedelectroniclocationfora |
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252 | | - | minimumof30daysfollowingtheapprovalandpostingoftheofficialminutes |
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253 | | - | forameeting. |
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254 | | - | (B)Amunicipalityisexemptfromsubdivision(A)ofthissubdivision |
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255 | | - | (6)ifcompliancewouldimposeanunduehardshiponthemunicipality. |
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256 | | - | (C)Amunicipalityshallhavetheburdenofprovingthatcompliance |
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257 | | - | underthissectionwouldimposeanunduehardshiponthemunicipality. |
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258 | | - | *** |
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259 | | - | (d)(1)Atleast48hourspriortoaregularmeeting,andatleast24hours |
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260 | | - | priortoaspecialmeeting,ameetingagendashallbe: |
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261 | | - | *** |
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262 | | - | (3)Ameetingagendashallcontainsufficientdetailsconcerningthe |
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263 | | - | specificmatterstobediscussedbythepublicbody.Foranymeetingthatmay |
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264 | | - | includeanexecutivesession,themeetingagendashallstatethatthemeeting |
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265 | | - | includesa“proposedexecutivesession.”Wheneverapublicbodyincludesan |
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266 | | - | executivesessionasanitemonapostedmeetingagenda,thepublicbodyshall |
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267 | | - | listtheagendaitemas“proposedexecutivesession.” |
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268 | | - | (4)(A)Anyadditiontoordeletionfromtheagendashallbemadeasthe |
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269 | | - | firstactofbusinessatthemeeting. |
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270 | | - | *** |
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271 | | - | Sec.3.1V.S.A.§ 313isamendedtoread: |
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272 | | - | §313.EXECUTIVESESSIONS |
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273 | | - | (a)Nopublicbodymayholdorconcludeanexecutivesessionfromwhich |
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274 | | - | thepublicisexcluded,exceptbytheaffirmativevoteoftwo-thirdsofits |
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275 | | - | memberspresentinthecaseofanypublicbodyofStategovernmentorofa |
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276 | | - | majorityofitsmemberspresentinthecaseofanypublicbodyofa |
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277 | | - | municipalityorotherpoliticalsubdivision.Amotiontogointoexecutive |
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278 | | - | sessionshallindicatethenatureofthebusinessoftheexecutivesession,and |
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279 | | - | noothermattermaybeconsideredintheexecutivesession.SuchThevoteto |
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280 | | - | enterexecutivesessionshallbetakeninthecourseofanopenmeetingandthe |
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281 | | - | resultofthevoterecordedintheminutes.Noformalorbindingactionshallbe BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.59 |
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282 | | - | 2025 Page8of8 |
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283 | | - | takeninexecutivesessionexceptforactionsrelatingtothesecuringofreal |
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284 | | - | estateoptionsundersubdivision(2)ofthissubsection.Minutesofanexecutive |
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285 | | - | sessionneednotbetaken,butiftheyare,theminutesshall,notwithstanding |
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286 | | - | subsection312(b)ofthistitle,beexemptfrompubliccopyingandinspection |
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287 | | - | underthePublicRecordsAct.Apublicbodymaynotholdanexecutive |
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288 | | - | sessionexcepttoconsideroneormoreofthefollowing: |
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289 | | - | *** |
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290 | | - | (10)securityoremergencyresponsemeasures,thedisclosureofwhich |
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291 | | - | couldjeopardizepublicsafety;or |
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292 | | - | (11)informationrelatingtotheinterestratesforpubliclyfinanced |
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293 | | - | loans. |
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294 | | - | *** |
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295 | | - | Sec.4.EFFECTIVEDATE |
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296 | | - | Thisactshalltakeeffectonpassage. |
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| 1 | + | BILL AS INTRODUCED S.59 |
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| 2 | + | 2025 Page 1 of 5 |
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| 3 | + | |
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| 4 | + | |
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| 5 | + | VT LEG #379580 v.1 |
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| 6 | + | S.59 1 |
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| 7 | + | Introduced by Senator Hardy 2 |
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| 8 | + | Referred to Committee on 3 |
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| 9 | + | Date: 4 |
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| 10 | + | Subject: General provisions; common law; general rights; public information; 5 |
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| 11 | + | Open Meeting Law 6 |
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| 12 | + | Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to amend 7 |
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| 13 | + | Vermont’s Open Meeting Law to state that annual municipal meetings and 8 |
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| 14 | + | representative town meetings are not “public bodies” that are subject to the 9 |
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| 15 | + | Open Meeting Law. This bill also proposes to provide that a public body may 10 |
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| 16 | + | move to enter executive session to discuss the interest rates of publicly 11 |
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| 17 | + | financed loans. 12 |
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| 18 | + | An act relating to amendments to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law 13 |
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| 19 | + | It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14 |
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| 20 | + | Sec. 1. 1 V.S.A. § 310 is amended to read: 15 |
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| 21 | + | § 310. DEFINITIONS 16 |
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| 22 | + | As used in this subchapter: 17 |
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| 23 | + | * * * 18 |
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| 24 | + | (6) “Public body” means any board, council, or commission of the State 19 |
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| 25 | + | or one or more of its political subdivisions, any board, council, or commission 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.59 |
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| 26 | + | 2025 Page 2 of 5 |
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| 27 | + | |
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| 28 | + | |
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| 29 | + | VT LEG #379580 v.1 |
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| 30 | + | of any agency, authority, or instrumentality of the State or one or more of its 1 |
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| 31 | + | political subdivisions, or any committee or subcommittee of any of the 2 |
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| 32 | + | foregoing boards, councils, or commissions, except that “public body” does not 3 |
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| 33 | + | include: 4 |
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| 34 | + | (A) councils or similar groups established by the Governor for the 5 |
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| 35 | + | sole purpose of advising the Governor with respect to policy; or 6 |
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| 36 | + | (B) annual municipal or representative town meetings. 7 |
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| 37 | + | * * * 8 |
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| 38 | + | (9) “Undue hardship” means an action required to achieve compliance 9 |
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| 39 | + | would require requiring significant difficulty or expense to the unit of 10 |
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| 40 | + | government to which a public body belongs, considered in light of factors 11 |
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| 41 | + | including the overall size of the entity, sufficient the availability of necessary 12 |
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| 42 | + | personnel and staffing availability staff, the entity’s budget available resources, 13 |
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| 43 | + | and the costs associated with compliance. 14 |
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| 44 | + | Sec. 2. 1 V.S.A. § 312 is amended to read: 15 |
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| 45 | + | § 312. RIGHT TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES 16 |
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| 46 | + | (a)(1) All meetings of a public body are declared to be open to the public at 17 |
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| 47 | + | all times, except as provided in section 313 of this title. No resolution, rule, 18 |
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| 48 | + | regulation, appointment, or formal action shall be considered binding except as 19 |
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| 49 | + | taken or made at such open meeting, except as provided under subdivision 20 |
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| 50 | + | 313(a)(2) of this title. A meeting of a public body is subject to the public 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.59 |
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| 51 | + | 2025 Page 3 of 5 |
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| 52 | + | |
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| 53 | + | |
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| 54 | + | VT LEG #379580 v.1 |
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| 55 | + | accommodation requirements of 9 V.S.A. chapter 139. A public body shall 1 |
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| 56 | + | electronically record all public hearings held to provide a forum for public 2 |
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| 57 | + | comment on a proposed rule, pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 840. The public shall 3 |
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| 58 | + | have access to copies of such electronic recordings as described in section 316 4 |
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| 59 | + | of this title. 5 |
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| 60 | + | * * * 6 |
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| 61 | + | (3) State nonadvisory public bodies; hybrid meeting requirement; 7 |
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| 62 | + | exception for advisory bodies. Any public body of the State, except advisory 8 |
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| 63 | + | bodies, shall: 9 |
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| 64 | + | * * * 10 |
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| 65 | + | (5) State nonadvisory public bodies; State and local advisory bodies; 11 |
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| 66 | + | designating electronic platforms. State nonadvisory A public bodies body 12 |
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| 67 | + | meeting in a hybrid fashion pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection and 13 |
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| 68 | + | State and local advisory bodies meeting without a physical meeting location or 14 |
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| 69 | + | advisory body meeting pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection shall 15 |
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| 70 | + | designate and use an electronic platform that allows the direct access, 16 |
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| 71 | + | attendance, and participation of the public, including access by telephone. The 17 |
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| 72 | + | public body shall post information that enables the public to directly access the 18 |
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| 73 | + | designated electronic platform and include this information in the published 19 |
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| 74 | + | agenda or public notice for the meeting. 20 |
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| 75 | + | (6) Local nonadvisory public bodies; meeting recordings. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.59 |
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| 76 | + | 2025 Page 4 of 5 |
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| 77 | + | |
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| 78 | + | |
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| 79 | + | VT LEG #379580 v.1 |
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| 80 | + | (A) A public body of a municipality or political subdivision, except 1 |
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| 81 | + | advisory bodies, shall record, in audio or video form, any meeting of the public 2 |
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| 82 | + | body and post a copy of the recording in a designated electronic location for a 3 |
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| 83 | + | minimum of 30 days following the approval and posting of the official minutes 4 |
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| 84 | + | for a meeting. 5 |
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| 85 | + | (B) A municipality is exempt from subdivision (A) of this 6 |
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| 86 | + | subdivision (6) if compliance would impose an undue hardship on the 7 |
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| 87 | + | municipality. 8 |
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| 88 | + | (C) A municipality shall have the burden of proving that compliance 9 |
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| 89 | + | under this section would impose an undue hardship on the municipality. 10 |
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| 90 | + | * * * 11 |
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| 91 | + | Sec. 3. 1 V.S.A. § 313 is amended to read: 12 |
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| 92 | + | § 313. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS 13 |
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| 93 | + | (a) No public body may hold an executive session from which the public is 14 |
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| 94 | + | excluded, except by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members present 15 |
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| 95 | + | in the case of any public body of State government or of a majority of its 16 |
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| 96 | + | members present in the case of any public body of a municipality or other 17 |
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| 97 | + | political subdivision. A motion to go into executive session shall indicate the 18 |
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| 98 | + | nature of the business of the executive session, and no other matter may be 19 |
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| 99 | + | considered in the executive session. Such vote shall be taken in the course of 20 |
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| 100 | + | an open meeting and the result of the vote recorded in the minutes. No formal 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.59 |
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| 101 | + | 2025 Page 5 of 5 |
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| 102 | + | |
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| 103 | + | |
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| 104 | + | VT LEG #379580 v.1 |
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| 105 | + | or binding action shall be taken in executive session except for actions relating 1 |
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| 106 | + | to the securing of real estate options under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 2 |
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| 107 | + | Minutes of an executive session need not be taken, but if they are, the minutes 3 |
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| 108 | + | shall, notwithstanding subsection 312(b) of this title, be exempt from public 4 |
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| 109 | + | copying and inspection under the Public Records Act. A public body may not 5 |
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| 110 | + | hold an executive session except to consider one or more of the following: 6 |
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| 111 | + | * * * 7 |
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| 112 | + | (10) security or emergency response measures, the disclosure of which 8 |
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| 113 | + | could jeopardize public safety; or 9 |
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| 114 | + | (11) information relating to the interest rates for publicly financed loans. 10 |
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| 115 | + | * * * 11 |
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| 116 | + | Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 12 |
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| 117 | + | This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 13 |
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