Committee reports bill clarifying when municipalities may hold remote meetings and emergency succession rules
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Summary
House Bill 17 77 would revise vestigial emergency-meeting language from Act 15 of 2020 and Title 35, establishing limited conditions and timeframes under which municipalities may hold meetings without an in-person quorum or temporarily relocate meetings; the committee reported the bill unanimously.
Chris Gacy of the Local Government Commission told members HB 17 77 revisits language adopted during the pandemic (Act 15 of 2020) and clarifies conditions under which a municipality may be excused from establishing an in‑person quorum during a declared state or local emergency. The bill draws on existing Title 53, Chapter 11 language about emergency succession and temporary meeting relocation to narrow the circumstances and limit the duration of remote‑meeting authority and relocation options.
Gacy said the rewrite establishes clearer triggers and time limits for using remote meetings without an in-person quorum, defines limited periods for temporary relocation of meeting places, and clarifies where meetings may be held if a municipal building is unavailable. Committee members asked no follow‑up questions, and the bill was reported unanimously to the floor by voice vote.
The bill will proceed to the House floor for consideration.