An Act authorizing remote participation at town meeting

HD 1993 allows Massachusetts towns with representative or open town meetings to hold meetings remotely or in hybrid format (part in-person, part remote) under specific conditions. Town moderators (or select boards if no moderator exists) must consult with officials, confirm ADA compliance, and provide clear notice detailing the platform and meeting rules before implementing remote participation. Eligible voters must request remote access 48 hours in advance, and the remote platform must verify voter eligibility, enable clear audio for all participants, allow real-time recognition requests, and record the meeting for public access for 90 days. The bill directly affects towns, voters, and town officials by establishing concrete technical and procedural requirements for remote town meetings.