2023-2024 Session
Change SessionS.55 (Act 133)
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Sen. Alison Clarkson
,
Sen. Thomas Chittenden , Sen. Martine Gulick , Sen. Ruth Hardy , Sen. Nader Hashim , Sen. Richard McCormack , Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale , Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky , Sen. Anne Watson , Sen. Rebecca White , Sen. Irene Wrenner
5/10/2024 - Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 30, 2024
- Sponsor(s)
- Last Recorded Action
- House 5/10/2024 - Senate Message: Signed by Governor May 30, 2024
Bill/Resolution Text
NOTE: to print information that appears on a tab within the bill page, use the Print link on that tab.
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Detailed Status
Regular Session 2023-2024
| Body | Date | Journal | Calendar | Location | Full Status |
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An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Roll Call History
Regular Session 2023-2024
| Body | Date | Journal | Location | Full Status |
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Although procedurally bills and resolutions are assigned to only one committee at a time, other committees may review the bill or resolution. This page contains results from both the assigned committee as well as other committees.
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee Meetings
Regular Session 2023-2024
| Meeting Date | Committee |
|---|
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Meeting Full List
Regular Session 2023-2024
Friday, February 3, 2023
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:45 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Carol Dawes, Legislative Committee Chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association
Gwynn Zakov, Municipal Policy Advocate, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Friday, April 7, 2023
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Sarah Copeland Hanzas , Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
John O'Duinn, Founder, Release Mechanix, LLC
Lindsey Owen, Executive Director, Disabilities Rights Vermont
Kate Larose, Pandemic Equity Coordinator, Vermont Center for Independent Living
Jim Douglas, Former Governor
Thursday, January 11, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:10 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 2:20 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
- 3:05 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Kate Larose, Pandemic Equity Coordinator, Vermont Center for Independent Living
Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
- 3:45 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:20 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through of New Draft
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 3:10 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Tanya Marshall, State Archivist and Director, VT State Archives & Records Administration, Secretary of State's Office
Jennifer Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Executive Director, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:30 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Michael Barber, General Counsel, Green Mountain Care Board
Elizabeth Schilling, Staff Attorney, Vermont Public Utility Commission
Michael Donoghue, Executive Director, Vermont Press Association
Joseph Reinert, Chief Hearing Officer, Human Services Board
Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Friday, January 26, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee Discussion
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:15 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee Discussion
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 2:50 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Catherine Dimitruk, Chair, Vermont Association of Planning & Development Agencies
Devon Neary, Executive Director, Rutland Regional Planning Commission
Carol Dawes, Legislative Committee Chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association
Tim Arsenault, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association
Leslie Welts, Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the General Counsel and Administrative Law Division, Attorney General's Office
Friday, February 2, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:15 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through of New Draft and Testimony
Matthew LeFluer, Community Member, Statewide Community Advisory
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:35 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office
Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Mary Catherine Graziano, Selectboard Chair, Isle La Motte
Cara Zimmerman, Director of Policy Services and Legislative Affairs, Vermont School Boards Association
- 3:10 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Mark-up
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 3:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through of New Draft
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 3:45 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Scott Gillette, Chair, Hancock Selectboard
Chris Plumb, Chair, Andover Selectboard
Yves Gonnet, Zoning Administrative Officer, Huntington
Friday, February 16, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:05 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Susan Clark, Moderator, Middlesex
Emily Ruff, Former Selectboard Member, Orange
Gary Briggs, Selectboard Member, Lunenburg
Nancy Howe, Chair, Hartford Board of Civil Authority/Abatement
- 2:15 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee Discussion
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:05 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through of New Draft
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 2:30 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony and Committee Discussion
Aileen Chute, Selectboard Chair, Putney
George Blakeslee, Town Clerk, Guildhall
Mike Doenges, Mayor of City of Rutland
Clayton Cargill, School Board Chair, Danville
Mark Koenig, Board Member, Addison Northwest School District
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 1:25 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Executive Director, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Lindsey Owen, Executive Director, Disabilities Rights Vermont
Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
Margaret Cheney, Commissioner, Public Utility Commission
Elizabeth Schilling, Staff Attorney, Vermont Public Utility Commission
F.X. Flinn, Chair, ECFiber
John Flowers, Former President, Vermont Press Association
- 3:30 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Mark-up
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Government Operations
- 2:40 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Mark-up
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 4:20 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 4:35 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Vote
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Appropriations
- 3:25 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Introduction and Committee Discussion
Sen. Ruth Hardy, Reporter, Senate Government Operations Committee
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office
Thursday, March 14, 2024
- Committee(s):
- Senate Committee on Appropriations
- 1:40 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Vote
Thursday, March 28, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 10:10 AM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Introduction and walk-through
Sen. Ruth Hardy, Reporter
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:00 AM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk-through and testimony
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Carol Dawes, Clerk-Treasurer, Barre City, Co-chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association Legislative Committee
Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Catherine Dimitruk, Chair, Vermont Association of Planning & Development Agencies
Devon Neary, Executive Director, Rutland Regional Planning Commission
Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 1:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Cara Zimmerman, Director of Policy Services and Legislative Affairs, Vermont School Boards Association
Rep. Joseph Parsons, Chair of Selectboard, Newbury
Lisa Loomis, President, Vermont Press Association and editor/co-owner, Valley Reporter
Ellie de Villiers, President, Vermont Communications Union Districts Association
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
- 3:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee discussion
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, April 12, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 15 min after Floor
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee discussion
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, April 26, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 1:00 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony
Kate Larose, Pandemic Equity Coordinator, Vermont Center for Independent Living
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:00 AM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Testimony, possible mark-up and possible vote
Susan Barrett, Executive Director, Green Mountain Care Board
Kristen Lajeunesse, Executive Assistant, Green Mountain Care Board
Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- -
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee discussion
Thursday, May 2, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 11:15 AM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Review new draft, committee discussion, possible vote
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- 4:35 PM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Possible mark-up and possible vote
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, May 3, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- 9:00 AM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Vote
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, May 3, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Appropriations
- 10:35 AM
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Walk through and vote
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office
Monday, May 6, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- -
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Amendment
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
- Committee(s):
- House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- -
-
S.55 - An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
McFaun amendment
Rep. Francis McFaun, Sponsor of amendment
Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Committee Documents
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Witnesses Who Testified
Regular Session 2023-2024
House Committee on Appropriations
- Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office
House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
- Susan Barrett, Executive Director, Green Mountain Care Board
- Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
- Carol Dawes, Clerk-Treasurer, Barre City, Co-chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association Legislative Committee
- Ellie de Villiers, President, Vermont Communications Union Districts Association
- Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- Catherine Dimitruk, Chair, Vermont Association of Planning & Development Agencies
- Sen. Ruth Hardy, Reporter
- Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
- Kristen Lajeunesse, Executive Assistant, Green Mountain Care Board
- Kate Larose, Pandemic Equity Coordinator, Vermont Center for Independent Living
- Lisa Loomis, President, Vermont Press Association and editor/co-owner, Valley Reporter
- Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
- Rep. Francis McFaun, Sponsor of amendment
- Devon Neary, Executive Director, Rutland Regional Planning Commission
- Rep. Joseph Parsons, Chair of Selectboard, Newbury
- Cara Zimmerman, Director of Policy Services and Legislative Affairs, Vermont School Boards Association
Senate Committee on Appropriations
- Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- Sen. Ruth Hardy, Reporter, Senate Government Operations Committee
- Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office
Senate Committee on Government Operations
- Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
- Tim Arsenault, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association
- Michael Barber, General Counsel, Green Mountain Care Board
- George Blakeslee, Town Clerk, Guildhall
- Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
- Ted Brady, Executive Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
- Gary Briggs, Selectboard Member, Lunenburg
- Clayton Cargill, School Board Chair, Danville
- Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
- Margaret Cheney, Commissioner, Public Utility Commission
- Aileen Chute, Selectboard Chair, Putney
- Susan Clark, Moderator, Middlesex
- Sarah Copeland Hanzas , Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
- Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Executive Director, CCTV Center for Media and Democracy
- Carol Dawes, Legislative Committee Chair, Vermont Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Association
- Catherine Dimitruk, Chair, Vermont Association of Planning & Development Agencies
- Mike Doenges, Mayor of City of Rutland
- Michael Donoghue, Executive Director, Vermont Press Association
- Jim Douglas, Former Governor
- F.X. Flinn, Chair, ECFiber
- John Flowers, Former President, Vermont Press Association
- Scott Gillette, Chair, Hancock Selectboard
- Yves Gonnet, Zoning Administrative Officer, Huntington
- Mary Catherine Graziano, Selectboard Chair, Isle La Motte
- Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
- Nancy Howe, Chair, Hartford Board of Civil Authority/Abatement
- Mark Koenig, Board Member, Addison Northwest School District
- Kate Larose, Pandemic Equity Coordinator, Vermont Center for Independent Living
- Matthew LeFluer, Community Member, Statewide Community Advisory
- Tanya Marshall, State Archivist and Director, VT State Archives & Records Administration, Secretary of State's Office
- Wendy Mays, Executive Director, Vermont Association of Broadcasters
- Scott Moore, Legislative Finance Manager, Joint Fiscal Office
- Devon Neary, Executive Director, Rutland Regional Planning Commission
- John O'Duinn, Founder, Release Mechanix, LLC
- Lindsey Owen, Executive Director, Disabilities Rights Vermont
- Chris Plumb, Chair, Andover Selectboard
- Joseph Reinert, Chief Hearing Officer, Human Services Board
- Emily Ruff, Former Selectboard Member, Orange
- Jennifer Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
- Elizabeth Schilling, Staff Attorney, Vermont Public Utility Commission
- Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
- Leslie Welts, Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the General Counsel and Administrative Law Division, Attorney General's Office
- Gwynn Zakov, Municipal Policy Advocate, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
- Cara Zimmerman, Director of Policy Services and Legislative Affairs, Vermont School Boards Association
Fiscal notes and materials available on this web page are provided for informational purposes only, and may not comprise all materials received by the Vermont Legislature or the final fiscal information related to a specific bill. The Legislature is not responsible for the accuracy of any information in these materials, and their posting does not constitute approval or endorsement by the Legislature.
Fiscal Information
Fiscal Notes and Related Documents
- S.55 (Act 133) – An act relating to updating Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, As Enacted
- S.55 – An act relating to updating Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, As Passed by the General Assembly
- S.55 – An act relating to authorizing public bodies to meet electronically under Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, As recommended by the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, Draft 4.1
- S.55 – An act relating to authorizing public bodies to meet electronically under Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, As passed by the Senate
- S.55 – An act relating to authorizing public bodies to meet electronically under Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, As recommended by the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Draft 5.4
No committee of conference members found for S.55 in the Regular Session 2023-2024.
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee of Conference Meetings
Regular Session 2023-2024
| Meeting Date | Committee |
|---|
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Committee of Conference Meeting Full List
Regular Session 2023-2024
No committee of conference meeting history found for S.55 in the Regular Session 2023-2024.
No committee of conference report found for S.55 in the Regular Session 2023-2024.
Act
- Signed into law 5/30/2024
- As Enacted (ACT 133)
- Act Summary
An act relating to updating Vermont's Open Meeting Law
Statutes Affected
Regular Session 2023-2024
| Statute |
|---|
| 1 V.S.A. § 310. Definitions |
| 1 V.S.A. § 312. Right to attend meetings of public agencies |
| 1 V.S.A. § 312a. Meetings of public bodies; state of emergency |
| 1 V.S.A. § 314. Penalty and enforcement |
| 17 V.S.A. § 2640. Annual meetings |
| 17 V.S.A. § 2680. Australian ballot system; general |
Staff & Other Information
- Staff
- Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel
- Timothy Devlin, Legislative Counsel
