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Revisor briefs Committee on Federal and State Affairs on open meetings and records law
Summary
A Revisor of Statutes Office staffer told the committee there is no constitutional right to open meetings or records and reviewed statutory duties, exceptions, penalties and practical guidance — including that executive sessions cannot produce binding action and agencies generally must respond to records requests within three business days.
Tom Kessler, chair of the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, invited a Revisor of Statutes Office staffer identified in the record as 'Mike' to brief the committee on the state's open meetings and open records laws.
Mike opened by saying, 'there's no constitutional right for open meetings or for open records,' and outlined the statutory regime that governs access. He told members the Open Meetings Act (chapter 75) and the Open Records Act (enacted in 1984) establish a presumption of openness but leave many details to statute and administrative practice.
Mike explained that 'meeting' is defined broadly to include gatherings in person or via interactive communication of a majority of a public body's membership and that public bodies are broadly defined to include legislative…
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