An Act to permit enhanced public access to deliberations of public bodies and to permit improved efficiency of public bodies

This bill amends Massachusetts state law to allow government agencies to hold online discussions, known as "Public Internet Discussions," as a formal way for public officials to deliberate on issues. Under the new rules, these online sessions must be open for the public to watch and require that all comments be verified to identify the speaker, but they cannot be used to vote or make official decisions. The legislation also updates how agencies must notify the public about these events, requiring at least 48 hours of advance notice that lists the topics to be discussed and provides links to join the online conversation. By clarifying that deliberations can happen both in person and online, the bill aims to increase transparency while giving public bodies more flexibility in how they conduct their business.