Public bodies would provide more ways to join meetings

Public bodies would provide the public with ways to attend meetings and submit testimony by telephone, video or other electronic means when reasonably possible. This would cover public meetings other than executive sessions, including certain land-use and development hearings, but not contested case hearings under Oregon law. The public body would need to provide electronic access when reasonably possible. People could submit electronic testimony only when the meeting allows oral or written testimony. For a meeting held electronically, the public body would still need to provide at least one way for the public to listen as the meeting occurs. If enacted, this provision would take effect on the 91st day after the 2026 regular session adjourns, but the governor vetoed the enrolled measure.

People could submit a written grievance about a public-meeting violation within 90 days, and the public body would have to respond within 21 days. The process would apply to alleged violations by a public body or its governing body under Oregon’s public-meeting rules. A person would have to identify themselves and describe the specific facts supporting the grievance. The public body could cure an alleged violation by rescinding a decision, acknowledging the violation and changing its practices, or taking another compliance action. A person generally would have to complete this grievance process before asking the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to review the matter. The 90-day filing period would run from the alleged violation, and the public body’s initial response would be due within 21 days after receiving the grievance.

Certain governing-body members would have to complete public-meeting-law training, and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission could impose civil penalties for violations. Mandatory training would apply to decision-making governing bodies overseeing public bodies with at least $1 million in annual expenditures, excluding state-government governing bodies and recommendation-only bodies. Members would attend or view the commission’s training at least once during their terms and verify completion. Training could occur from three months before taking office through 12 months after taking office. The commission could impose penalties of up to $1,000 for public-meeting violations, but not when the violation resulted from following the public body’s lawyer’s advice. A penalty for an official would generally be the official’s personal liability, while penalties for administrative errors would be the public body’s responsibility. If enacted, the training and penalty provisions would take effect on the 91st day after the 2026 regular session adjourns, but the governor vetoed the enrolled measure.