In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the significant increase in public participation in meetings due to the adoption of remote access technologies during the pandemic. The use of platforms like Teams and Zoom has allowed citizens to engage in discussions from the comfort of their homes, leading to a notable rise in attendance. One participant shared their personal experience of being able to follow school board meetings while multitasking at home, highlighting the convenience these tools provide.

The legislature is currently encouraging agencies to continue utilizing remote participation tools, although a previous proposal to make it a requirement was modified through the legislative process. The participant noted that while remote participation is currently encouraged, there is potential for it to become mandatory in the future.

The meeting also addressed the definition of governing bodies, clarifying that multi-member boards and commissions, as well as subcommittees acting on behalf of these bodies, fall under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). However, purely advisory groups, such as task forces that gather information without decision-making authority, are not subject to the same regulations. Officials emphasized the importance of ensuring that advisory groups do not possess any hidden powers that could affect their advisory status.

Overall, the discussions underscored the evolving landscape of public engagement in government processes and the potential for continued innovation in how citizens participate in governance.