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TAC briefed on Vermont Open Meeting Law changes under Act 133 that took effect July 1
Summary
CCRPC staff briefed the TAC on Act 133 (S.55), a permanent amendment to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law effective July 1, 2024, explaining differences in requirements between decision-making and advisory bodies and pointing members to CCRPC and state resources.
Emma Vaughn, Communications Manager for the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, briefed the Transportation Advisory Committee on Act 133 (S.55), which permanently amended Vermont’s Open Meeting Law and took effect July 1, 2024.
Vaughn summarized the law’s purpose: “The purpose of the Open Meeting Law (OML) is to promote transparency, accountability, and better decision-making in government.” She described how the law distinguishes two types of public bodies: non-advisory (decision-making) bodies, such as the CCRPC Board and Executive Committee, which must have a physical location and audio or video record meetings with postings available for at least 30 days; and advisory bodies, like the TAC, which may hold remote-only, hybrid, or in-person meetings but must still meet public participation requirements and are not required to record meetings via audio or video.
Vaughn and staff directed members to CCRPC’s Open Meeting Law webpage and a two-page summary included in the packet for details and for information about reporting potential OML violations. The briefing was presented as informational guidance for TAC members to ensure compliance with the updated statute and to clarify expectations for meeting format, public participation, and recordkeeping.
The committee did not take any formal action on the OML during the meeting; staff provided resources for further review.
