B 26-0208 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Open Meetings Clarification Amendment Act of 2025

This bill clarifies Washington D.C.'s Open Meetings Act to define when public meetings must be accessible. It explicitly excludes casual gatherings, press conferences, field trips, and policy briefings (without action) from the definition of a "meeting." Key changes allow public bodies to discuss threats or receive briefings about security/public health risks without public access if disclosure would endanger people, and exempt Council-Mayor meetings from open meeting rules if no official action occurs. It also requires public bodies to make meetings accessible online in real-time if feasible, or as soon as possible afterward. These changes directly affect all D.C. public bodies, including city councils, committees, and agencies holding meetings.

Bill status signed all 3 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Mar 27, 2025 Signed Aug 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and renamed from an 'Emergency Amendment Act' to a standard 'Amendment Act,' removing the urgency designation. The core policy changes remain intact, clarifying the definition of a 'meeting' to include various communication methods, creating an exemption for Council-Mayor meetings where no official action is taken, and allowing public bodies to receive confidential briefings on terrorist threats or public health dangers without triggering open meeting requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed slightly by removing the 'Emergency' title, but the substantive applicability to public bodies, the Council, and the Mayor remains unchanged.

DEFINITION

The definition of a 'meeting' was refined to explicitly include gatherings held via telephone, electronic means, or other communication methods, ensuring these virtual interactions are subject to open meeting laws.

A specific exemption was added for meetings between Council members and the Mayor, provided that no official action is decided during the meeting.

ADDED

A new exception was created allowing public bodies to hold closed sessions to receive briefings on potential terrorist activities or public health threats, as long as disclosing the information would endanger the public.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for public notice was softened from 'shall provide' to 'shall attempt to provide,' giving public bodies more flexibility in scheduling and notice timing.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from 'Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026' to 'Open Meetings Clarification Amendment Act of 2026,' removing the emergency status.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 23, 2026

Introduced

Amendment (Mendelson)

legislature

Jun 2, 2026

Introduced

Amendment (Allen)

legislature

Jun 2, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0208 by the Committee of the Whole

legislature

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee of the Whole

legislature

Mar 27, 2025

Introduced

B26-0208 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors