HB 6509 Summary

• Removes the exemption for partisan caucuses of state legislators from the Michigan Open Meetings Act, requiring such meetings to be open to the public.

• Maintains existing requirements that all public body meetings be open, with recording and broadcasting rights permitted without prior approval, and establishes that people cannot be required to register or provide information to attend.

• Requires a 2/3 roll call vote to call a closed session for most purposes, with the vote and purpose recorded in public minutes.

• Establishes specific requirements for university president selection processes, including mandatory diversity on search committees, a 30-day waiting period after final candidates are publicly identified, and public deliberation and voting by the governing board.

• Imposes a civil fine of up to $500,000 on higher education institutions that violate the open meetings requirements during presidential selection processes, with fines to be paid from funds allocated for governing board travel and expenses.