HB 6423 Summary

• Revises the Open Meetings Act to add new definitions including "closed session," "decision," "deliberation," "meeting," and "online," and clarifies that advisory committees and single persons are excluded from the definition of "public body."

• Requires all decisions of public bodies be made in open sessions, eliminates COVID-19 emergency remote participation procedures, and prohibits conditioning meeting attendance on providing personal information; allows recording of meetings without prior approval but permits reasonable rules to minimize disruption.

• Modifies public notice requirements to mandate posting notices on public bodies' websites in addition to principal offices, establishes 18-hour advance notice for special meetings, and creates new provisions for emergency meetings with specific circumstances and detailed explanation requirements under new Section 5a.

• Increases criminal penalties for intentional violations from $1,000 to $5,000 for first offense and $2,000 to $10,000 for second offense within same term; increases civil liability damages from $500 to $2,500 and adds $500,000 civil fine for higher education institutions violating presidential selection process requirements.

• Requires state licensing boards, commissions, and rule-making boards to retain audio or audio-and-video recordings of open sessions for at least 1 year, and establishes 30-day statute of limitations for challenging decisions involving contracts or bonds versus 60 days for other decisions.