NC H445

Authorizes public bodies to conduct remote meetings under three circumstances: during emergency declarations, when members cannot attend in person due to health issues, or when members face generally unexpected circumstances preventing in-person attendance.

Requires remote meetings to provide proper notice citing the reason, allow live online streaming of audio and video, use roll call voting only, and ensure at least a quorum attends in person for health or unexpected circumstance meetings.

Members participating remotely by communication methods where they cannot be physically seen must identify themselves when roll is taken, before participating in deliberations, and before voting.

Establishes that all chats, instant messages, texts, and other written communications between members during remote meetings are public records.

Becomes effective October 1, 2023, and applies to open meetings held on or after that date; recodifies remote meeting provisions from G.S. 166A-19.24 to G.S. 143-318.13A.