Virtual Meetings Are Back

As discussed in last month’s column, the legislature fast-tracked an updated virtual meetings bill, which Governor Stitt has signed into law. Senate Bill 1031, effective immediately, allows public bodies to resume the practice of conducting meetings virtually if they so choose.

You will want to be aware of the public notice provision regarding the form of meeting, as the new law differs from the previous version:

A public body that gives public notice of a meeting for which there will be a video conference option in accordance with Section 307.1 of this title shall not modify the method of meeting described in the notice prior to the meeting and shall conduct the meeting according to the methods described in the notice. If a code or password is required to access the videoconference meeting, the code or password shall be included in the public notice.

Additionally, if a virtual meeting is to be held, any materials provided to board members for that meeting must be made immediately available to the public on the school’s website, if such a website exists.

This bill expires on the earlier of February 15, 2022, or thirty days after the governor’s COVID-19 state of emergency declaration has expired or terminated.