PRIA Logo™
District of ColumbiaB26-0632Council Period 26 (2025-2026)House

Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

When these open-meeting rules start

The Act applies starting March 29, 2026. A related rule at 3 DCMR 5170.3 does not apply until October 17, 2026.

Clearer rules for DC public meetings

The law defines a meeting as any time a quorum of a public body considers public business, in person or online. Chance or social events and press conferences are not meetings if they are not used to dodge the law. For the Council, a meeting is a regular or extra legislative meeting, and committee meetings where votes are taken. The law also covers gatherings of councilmembers and lets the Council set its own rules; otherwise the Act applies. Meetings between councilmembers and the Mayor are outside the Act if no official action is decided. It adds the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council as a covered public body. These rules apply starting March 29, 2026.

New rules for access and notice

Public bodies must take steps so people can watch or hear meetings live. If live access is not possible, they must post it as soon as reasonably practicable. The notice rule now says bodies must attempt to give notice, rather than always provide it. For urgent matters, they can use special procedures that override normal notice. Votes must be recorded for the public record. These rules start March 29, 2026.

Private sessions allowed for safety threats

A public body may meet in private to discuss ways to guard against terrorism or big dangers to health and safety. They may get briefings and take action when sharing details could endanger the public or the body. This authority applies beginning March 29, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Phil Mendelson

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 9 • No: 3

House vote • 3/31/2026

Final Reading

Yes: 9 • No: 3 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0297, Expires on Jul 17, 2026

    4/18/2026House

  2. Returned from Mayor

    4/17/2026House

  3. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 17, 2026

    4/2/2026House

  4. Legislative Meeting

    3/31/2026House

  5. Retained by the Council

    3/31/2026House

  6. B26-0632 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

    3/30/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrollment

    3/31/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    3/30/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation