B 26-0633 — Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

ENGROSSEDENROLLED ORIGINAL ABILLANACT 3_________________ 26-633 5 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7 _________________ 9 To amend, on a temporary basis, the Open MeetingsAct to clarify the definition of meeting;meeting, to provide for a public body’s ability to be briefed about potential terrorist or public health threats so long as no official action is taken, to exempt from the act meetings between the Council and the Mayor provided that no official action is taken at such meetings, and to provide that a meeting shall be deemed open to the public if the public body takes steps reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable;

and to provideamend forsection a5710 publicof body’sTitle ability3 toof bethe briefedDistrict aboutof potentialColumbia terroristMunicipal orRegulations publicto healthfurther threatsclarify sothe longapplicability asdate nofor officialexpanded actionfinancial isreporting taken;requirements for certain boards and commissions.

to exempt from the act meetings between the Council and the Mayor provided that no official action is taken at such meetings;

to provide that a meeting shall be deemed open to the public if the public body takes steps reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, or, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable;

and to further clarify the applicability date for expanded financial reporting requirements for certain boards and commissions.

“(1)(A) “Meeting” means any gathering of a quorum of the members of a public body, including hearings and roundtables, whether formal or informal, regular, special, or emergency, at which the members consider, conduct, or advise on public business, including gathering information, taking testimony, discussing, deliberating, recommending, and voting, ENGROSSED ORIGINAL regardless of whether held in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of communication.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL “(C) For the purposes of the Council of the District of Columbia, the term “meeting” means a regular or additional legislative meeting, and committee meetings where votes are taken.”taken.”. (2) Paragraph (3) is amended as follows:

(A)(2) SubparagraphParagraph (E)(3) is amended byas strikingfollows: the phrase “:

(A) Subparagraph (E) is amended by striking the phrase “;

“(G) theThe Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.”.

(A)Paragraph(A) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “;

ENGROSSED(B) ORIGINALParagraph (B)Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “televised.” and inserting the phrase "televised;“televised;

(C)(C)Anew Anew paragraph (4) is added to read as follows:

provided, that disclosure could endanger the public or the public body;”body;”. (3) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows:

(3) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows:

providedprovided, that unless the Council adopts rules pursuant to this subsection, this title shall apply to the Council.”Council.”. (4) Anew subsection (h) is added to read as follows:

“(h)(4)Anew Thissubsection act(h) shallis notadded apply to aread meetingas betweenfollows: members of the Council and the Mayor, provided, that no official action is decided at the meeting.”.

ENGROSSED“(h) ORIGINALThis (c)title Sectionshall 406not (D.C.apply to a meeting between members of the Council and the Mayor;

provided, that no official action is decided at the meeting.”.

(c) Section 406 (D.C.

(1) Paragraph (1) is amended by striking the phrase "Except“Except for emergency meetings, a public body shall provide” and inserting the phrase “Apublic body shall attempt to provide” in its place.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL (2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase "Notwithstanding“Notwithstanding the notice requirement of paragraph (2) of this subsection, except”,except” and inserting the phraseword “Except” in its place.

“(1) Reasonable arrangements are made to accommodate the public’s right to attend the meeting, or steps are taken that are reasonably calculated to allow the public to view or to hear the meeting while the meeting is taking place, oror, if doing so is not technologically feasible, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable;”practicable;”. (2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase "taken by roll call” and inserting the word “recorded” in its place.

ENGROSSED(2) ORIGINALParagraph (e)(3) Sectionis 409(a)amended (D.C.by striking the phrase “taken by roll call” and inserting the word “recorded” in its place.

Official(e) CodeSection §409(a) 2-579(a))(D.C. is amended by striking the phrase “Council meetings” and inserting the phrase "meetings and gatherings of councilmembers” in its place.

Official Code § 2-579(a)) is amended by striking the phrase “Council meetings” and inserting the phrase “meetings and gatherings of councilmembers” in its place.

Section 25710.3 of Title 3 of the District of Columbia BoardsMunicipal andRegulations Commissions(3 FinancialDCMR Reporting§ Temporary5170.3) AmendmentActis ofamended 2025to (D.C.read as follows:

Law“5710.3. 26-98;

73This DCRsection 4484)shall isnot amendedapply bybefore strikingOctober the phrase “April 3, 2026” and inserting the phrase “October 17, 2026”2026.”. in its place.

This act shall beapply applicable as of March 29, 2026.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement inof the committeeBudget reportDirector as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative ProceduresActProcedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat.

(a) This act shall take effect following approval of the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home RuleAct, approved ENROLLED ORIGINAL December 24, 1973 (87 Stat.

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.

___________________________________ Chairman Council of the District of Columbia _________________________________ Mayor District of Columbia 4