Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols speaks during House consideration of legislation to reinstate a virtual meetings provision of the Open Meeting Act.
The Oklahoma House finished on Monday fast-tracked passage of legislation reinstating virtual public meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House approved Senate Bill 1031 on 88–5 vote, and the Senate sent it to Gov. Kevin Stitt. It will take effect immediately if signed.
The virtual meetings provision of the state Open Meeting Act expired almost three months ago, and public bodies have needed an in-person quorum since. SB1031 will let them meet virtually until Feb. 15, 2022, or 30 days after Stitt’s emergency declaration ends, whichever comes first.