S 2011 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to remote access for public bodies and town meeting

This bill updates Massachusetts laws to allow public bodies and town meetings to be held remotely or in hybrid formats while ensuring all participants can hear one another clearly. It mandates that these meetings remain open to the public and provides for remote voting by members, preventing them from being counted as absent. To maintain transparency, the legislation requires that the public have access to deliberations through live streaming or, if live access is not possible due to financial constraints, by posting a full transcript or recording on the organization's website. The bill also clarifies that remote participation must be offered without any fees or charges to the public.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
May 2024
House Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Jun 24, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
1
May 21, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors