WA HB2520

County legislative authorities may hold special meetings outside the county seat or remotely when expedited action is needed to meet an emergency, with minutes recorded and open to public inspection.

Public agencies may adopt ordinances, resolutions, rules, or directives at emergency meetings without standard notice requirements when expedited action is necessary, provided they comply with chapter requirements.

Remote meetings or meetings with limited physical public attendance during declared emergencies must provide free real-time public access options such as telephone, cable television, or internet streaming.

Public agencies that held regular meetings remotely prior to March 1, 2020 may continue doing so without a declared emergency as long as public listening options are provided.

Actions taken at remote or limited-attendance emergency meetings remain valid even when standard public attendance provisions cannot be met, as long as RCW 42.30.070 emergency meeting requirements are followed.