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District of ColumbiaB26-0199Council Period 26 (2025-2026)House

Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Closed sessions for safety threats

Public bodies may meet in private to discuss specific ways to protect against terrorist acts or major public health and safety dangers. They can receive briefings from staff, counsel, law enforcement, or emergency officials when sharing details could endanger people or the body. These sessions can be closed to protect safety-sensitive information.

New access steps, looser notice rules

Public bodies must take reasonable steps so the public can watch or hear meetings as they happen. If live access is not technologically possible, they must provide it as soon as reasonably practicable. Bodies must make reasonable arrangements to honor the public’s right to attend. Notice is relaxed from a strict duty to an attempt, and urgent matters can move ahead without usual notice steps. Votes must be recorded, not necessarily by roll call. The law also adjusts wording that frames how notice exceptions apply.

What counts as a public meeting

The law clarifies that a meeting includes any gathering of a quorum, including hearings and roundtables, in person or online. Chance or social events and press conferences are not meetings, if not used to dodge the law. For the Council, meetings are regular or additional legislative meetings and committee meetings where votes are taken. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council must follow these open-meeting rules. The Council can set its own rules for member gatherings; if it does not, the general open-meeting law applies. Meetings between the Council and the Mayor are not covered if no official action is decided.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Phil Mendelson

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 26 • No: 10

House vote • 4/1/2025

Other

Yes: 4 • No: 8

House vote • 4/1/2025

Other

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 10 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Act A26-0041 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 004070, Expires on Jul 06, 2025

    4/11/2025House

  2. Returned from Mayor

    4/8/2025House

  3. Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0041, Expires on Jul 06, 2025

    4/7/2025House

  4. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 18, 2025

    4/3/2025House

  5. Legislative Meeting

    4/1/2025House

  6. Retained by the Council

    4/1/2025House

  7. B26-0199 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

    3/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment

    4/1/2025

    PDFPDF

  • Enrollment

    4/1/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    3/28/2025

    PDF

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