Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Open Meetings Act to clarify when gatherings of public officials count as official meetings and to allow certain confidential discussions without violating transparency rules. It defines a meeting as any gathering where a quorum considers public business, while excluding casual social events and press conferences, and adds specific exemptions for briefings on terrorist threats or public health dangers where disclosure could endanger the public. The legislation also permits meetings between the Council and the Mayor if no official action is taken, requires public bodies to make reasonable efforts to allow public viewing or hearing of meetings even if live streaming isn't possible, and extends the deadline for financial reporting by several boards and commissions. These changes aim to balance the need for transparency with practical considerations for security briefings and technological limitations in meeting access.