HB166 Summary

• Amends Hawaii's Sunshine Law (Chapter 92) to permanently authorize boards to conduct meetings using interactive conference technology, allowing board members to participate remotely from non-public locations without requiring public access to those locations.

• Requires boards conducting virtual meetings to provide at least one public meeting location and inform the public how to remotely view meetings via internet streaming and provide oral testimony through internet, telephone, or other electronic means.

• Mandates that board members be visible and audible during public meetings, conduct roll-call votes (unless unanimous), announce participating members at meeting start, and confirm no unauthorized persons are present during executive sessions.

• Allows boards to recess meetings for up to one hour when audio communication fails rather than requiring immediate adjournment, and permits recording and posting meeting recordings online until minutes are published.

• Authorizes boards to require in-person attendees to provide names and contact information for contact tracing and comply with facial coverings or distancing requirements during states of emergency for contagious illness.