HB558 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben RobbinsRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Howard Sanderford

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Open Meetings Act, participation in meetings by electronic communication further provided, Sec. 36-25A-5.1 am'd.

Summary

HB558 would allow certain multi-county governmental bodies to participate in meetings by electronic communication and count those participants toward quorum, with public notice and meeting summaries required.

What This Bill Does

It lets members of governmental bodies from two or more counties participate by electronic communication, and that participation counts toward presence for quorum. If a meeting is conducted electronically, there must be a physical location where the public can hear all remote participants and the meeting must follow the Open Meetings Act for public participation. The body must post a summary of the meeting within 48 hours after it ends, on its website or by another reasonable notice method, describing deliberations and actions taken with reasonable specificity. The bill also lists certain bodies that cannot participate electronically, requires a majority of a quorum to be physically present to conduct business, requires roll-call voting for electronic meetings, and prohibits reimbursement to remote participants; bodies with other authorities may continue under those rules.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Governmental bodies comprised of members from two or more counties. Affected is their ability to meet electronically and have those members counted toward quorum, along with required public hearing location and meeting summaries.
• Group 2: The general public. Affected are improved opportunities to observe meetings via a designated public location and access to summarized meeting information posted publicly.

Key Provisions

• Electronic participation by members of multi-county governmental bodies counts as presence for quorum (but not for all purposes).
• Each meeting (except executive sessions) must have a physical public location where the public can hear remote participants, with notice of that location.
• Post-meeting summaries must be posted within 48 hours on a website or other notice method, detailing deliberations and actions.
• Certain bodies are prohibited from participating electronically, including specific state boards and commissions listed in the bill, and there are rules about physical presence for deliberation and executive sessions.
• Votes taken using electronic participation must be roll-call votes, audible to all at the physical location.
• No remote participant may claim reimbursement for expenses, including mileage or per diem.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

State Government