Boston, MA — With the option to hold virtual public meetings set to expire statewide in March 2027, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight recently advanced a bill (H.4831) that would update the Open Meeting Law to require hybrid meetings, guaranteeing the ability to participate in state and municipal meetings remotely as well as in person. Disability rights, free press, and civic organizations today applauded the move.

The ACLU of Massachusetts, Boston Center for Independent Living, Common Cause Massachusetts, Disability Law Center, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, MASSPIRG, New England First Amendment Coalition, and New England Newspaper & Press Association released the following joint statement in response:

“We thank Chair Cabral and his House colleagues on the committee for their dedicated work on this legislation. Across the Commonwealth, hybrid public meeting access — allowing people to participate either in-person or remotely — has significantly increased public participation in state and local government, and has lowered barriers for people with disabilities, people with limited access to transportation, and people with work and family obligations.

“This legislation is critical because it guarantees hybrid access instead of leaving it up to each body to conduct meetings according to its preference. When a public body closes the door to remote access, it closes the door to large groups of civic-minded residents.

“Post-pandemic, too many government bodies have reverted to in-person-only meetings, cutting off access for people with disabilities and others. We hope when the legislature considers this legislation, permanent reforms that guarantee hybrid public access are a priority. A more transparent and accessible government means a stronger democracy for all.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature has temporarily enabled entities subject to the Open Meeting Law to elect to conduct meetings in person, remotely, or in a hybrid manner, rather than exclusively in person, and has extended this temporary rule several times.

However, advocacy organizations warn that codifying the new status quo would leave accessibility to the preferences of decision-makers on each body.

Public meetings held without any virtual access for members of the public result in exclusion. People with disabilities, limited or no transportation, child care responsibilities, work travel,  or other barriers to in-person participation will continue to be shut out until legislation is passed to guarantee hybrid public meeting options for all under the Open Meeting Law.

H.4831 would update the Open Meeting Law to enable members of the public in every city and town to access and participate in public meetings remotely, or to attend in person. The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight gave a favorable report to the bill, which was sent to the House Committee on Ways & Means.

The latest version of the bill can be found here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4831

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