Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont Senate Bill S0059 Compare Versions

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