Cities and towns press to make hybrid public meetings permanent; smaller communities warn of technology costs

Municipal leaders across the state urged the committee to make hybrid and remote meeting authorizations permanent and local‑option rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all mandate.

“Almost every one of our public bodies has hybrid meetings and we absolutely have seen more diverse representation,” Northampton Mayor Janelle LaFontaine said, citing better access for working parents, residents with mobility limitations and volunteers. Lexington’s select board and many town committees also reported higher participation after adopting remote options.

Smaller communities and some select boards asked the committee not to impose an unfunded mandate. “For very small volunteer committees, requiring hybrid capability for every single meeting would present significant hardships,” the administration said; the bill therefore makes the option available rather than mandatory.

To address capacity gaps, the administration and several witnesses noted existing tools: community compact grants, intermunicipal agreements (IMAs), the Executive Office of Technology Services (EOT/EOTS) as a statewide cybersecurity and incident hub, and capital funds for municipal IT and municipal fiber. Officials cited approximately $5 million for IT grants and $7 million in capital for municipal fiber in fiscal 2026 (capital budget) to help build capacity for hybrid access.

Committee members said they want more detailed information on which small communities lack sustained capacity and what the state’s technical assistance plan would cost. Witnesses offered to provide follow‑up data to help craft an approach that preserves access while avoiding a costly mandate for the smallest towns.