District of ColumbiaD.C. public bodies can count meetings as open with reasonable live access steps
D.C. public bodies can count meetings as open with reasonable steps for live viewing or listening, or for access as soon as reasonably practical afterward if technology prevents live access.
What it does
A D.C. public body can count a meeting as open if it takes reasonable steps to let people watch or hear it live. If live access is not technologically feasible, the steps must aim for access as soon as reasonably practical afterward.
D.C.'s public meeting law does not apply when Council members meet with the Mayor, as long as they decide no official action at that meeting.
Unless the Council adopts its own rules, the person who called an unannounced gathering must report it when enough Council members to conduct business considered public business and advance notice was not required. The Council then posts its date, approximate time, and topic.
Argument forPeople who cannot attend in person could follow a meeting live when a public body takes reasonable steps to let them watch or hear it.
Argument againstResidents might miss Council members' talks with the Mayor when no official action is decided there, because D.C.'s public meeting law does not apply.
More detail
A D.C. public body can count a meeting as open by taking reasonable steps toward live public viewing or listening. This applies to meetings of public bodies covered by D.C.'s open meeting law. When live access is not technologically feasible, reasonable steps toward later viewing or listening can also count. Those later steps must aim for access as soon as reasonably practical afterward.
D.C.'s public meeting law does not apply when Council members meet with the Mayor and decide no official action there.
Unless the Council adopts its own rules, the caller must report a qualifying unannounced gathering, and the Council must post notice. This covers gatherings where enough Council members to conduct business considered public business, whether in person, by phone, or by video. Advance notice must not have been required by another law or rule, and none was given. The posted notice must give the gathering's date, approximate time, and topic. The caller must report within 24 business hours after the gathering. The Council must post within 24 business hours after receiving the report.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 28Law L26-0167, Effective from Aug 20, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 012063Latest
- Jul 14Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0361Became Law
- Jul 10Act A26-0361 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009392
- Jul 9Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Jul 6Returned from Mayor
- Jun 26Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jul 13, 2026To Governor
- Jun 23Final ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Amendment (Mendelson). Result: pass.Legislature
- Vote recorded Final Reading. Result: pass.Legislature
- Jun 23Amendment (Mendelson)Minor
- Jun 2Amendment (Allen)Minor
- Vote recorded First Reading. Result: pass.Legislature
- Vote recorded Amendment (Allen). Result: pass.Legislature
- Jun 2First ReadingMinor
- Jun 2Committee Mark-up of B26-0208 by the Committee of the Whole
- 2025
- Apr 22Public Hearing on B26-0208 View Public Hearing Record
- Apr 4Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Apr 4Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0208 Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Apr 1Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Committee of the WholeMinor
- Apr 1Referred to Committee of the WholeMinor
- Mar 27B26-0208 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the SecretaryIntroduced
Government & Ethics