Today, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1031, reinstating that government boards, commissions, and city councils can resume meeting virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic. This measure was endorsed by Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall.
The signing represents legislation to temporarily modify the state’s Open Meeting Act to allow cities and towns to meet via teleconference or videoconference through an effective date of Feb. 15, 2022 or until 30 days after the governor’s emergency declaration expires.
The legislation goes into effect immediately.
OML has continued its efforts to get the legislation reinstated since the original bill expired in November, 2020. “The desire of OML and our Oklahoma cities and towns has been for our legislators to give them the ability to meet and conduct business without putting officials or the public in jeopardy of contracting or continuing the spread of COVID-19 virus,” Mike Fina, OML Executive Director said. “We want to thank the governor and legislator’s for their swift action in signing this bill,” Fina said.
