VT H0145

Authorizes chairs of public bodies to adopt rules governing public comment and prohibiting disruption of meetings subject to Vermont's Open Meeting Law

Allows public bodies to remove individuals from meetings for violating conduct rules, and to ban them from in-person attendance for up to 60 days if hybrid/electronic participation remains available

Amends Vermont's disorderly conduct statute (13 V.S.A. § 1026) to add "substantially impairs the effective conduct of a meeting of a public body" as a criminal violation

Balances public speech rights with governmental efficiency by prohibiting only "substantial disruption" rather than mere disagreement or adverse audience reactions

Effective date: July 1, 2025