HB229 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben RobbinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

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

Summary

The bill lets certain multi-county government bodies meet with remote participation and requires public remote access when used, with rules to protect quorum, voting, and executive sessions.

What This Bill Does

It allows eligible governmental bodies to have members participate remotely by electronic means, counting as present for most purposes except quorum. If remote participation is used, there must be a public remote participation option and a physical location for the public, with remote participation information published with the meeting notice. It also lists bodies that cannot participate electronically, requires physically present members to conduct business and to attend executive sessions, requires roll-call voting when using remote participation, prohibits reimbursement for remote participation expenses, and allows bodies to continue under existing authority or adopt the new rules.

Who It Affects

• Members of multi-county Alabama governmental bodies, who may participate remotely and have presence counted for most purposes except quorum.
• Members of the public who wish to observe or participate in meetings, who must be allowed to participate remotely when remote participation is used and must have access to a physical public location for in-person attendance.

Key Provisions

• Remote participation by eligible bodies (two or more counties) is allowed and counts as presence for most purposes, but not for establishing quorum.
• Whenever remote participation is used, there must be a physical location for public attendance and a process to allow remote public participation; remote participation details must be published with meeting notices.
• Certain bodies are prohibited from participating electronically (e.g., Board of Pardons and Paroles, Public Service Commission, Legislative committees in session, and others listed).
• A majority of a quorum must be physically present to conduct business, and only those physically present may participate in an executive session.
• Votes taken with remote participation must be roll-call votes, with each participant voting individually and audibly.
• Members cannot claim reimbursement for remote participation expenses (e.g., mileage, per diem).
• Entities with separate statutory authority to meet electronically may continue under that authority or adopt these provisions.
• Effective date: the bill becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage/approval.

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