An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law

This bill updates Vermont's Open Meeting Law to require most state and local government meetings to be held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend both in person and online. It applies to state boards, councils, and commissions, as well as local government bodies, while exempting advisory groups that do not have decision-making power. The law mandates that these meetings be electronically recorded and made publicly available for at least 30 days after minutes are posted, and requires public bodies to designate accessible physical locations for in-person attendance. Local municipalities may request exemptions from recording requirements if they can prove compliance would cause undue hardship based on their size, budget, and staffing. The bill also clarifies definitions related to meetings and public participation, ensuring transparency regardless of whether meetings occur in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid arrangement.