HB 1597 Summary

• Clarifies that members of the public may sue a board after receiving an adverse Office of Information Practices (OIP) decision, with circuit courts reviewing such decisions de novo.

• Establishes a two-year statute of limitations for bringing open meetings lawsuits while preserving the right to seek OIP review first.

• Limits attorney's fees and costs recovery to members of the public who prevail in open meetings lawsuits, excluding boards from recovering fees.

• Requires persons filing open meetings lawsuits to notify the OIP in writing at the time of filing, allowing the OIP to intervene in the action.

• Mandates that circuit courts prioritize and expedite open meetings lawsuits that seek to void a board's final action on their docket.