State sunshine laws see short-term adjustments

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OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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  • Photo provided The floor of the Oklahoma Senate inside the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — In an effort to allow continued government meetings while honoring new in-person limitations recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oklahoma Legislature has approved temporary amendments to the state’s Sunshine laws.

On Tuesday, the Legislature’s two chambers gave fast-track approval to Senate Bill 661, which allows for boards, commissions and other government bodies to go into executive session via teleconference. The measure also waives the requirement for entities to post a meeting notice at their meeting location or principal office. Signed into law Wednesday, the amendments are explicitly set to sunset on Nov. 15 or once the state of emergency declaration is lifted, contingent upon which happens first. As originally drafted, it would have remained in effect through March 2021, drawing ire from multiple corners, including Freedom of Information Oklahoma.

The measure was introduced on the same day that COVID-19 visitation restrictions began at the state Capitol. “While we are sympathetic to the extenuating circumstances and agree that some flexibility is warranted, the language...contains many loopholes and other uncertainties that could result in a decrease in transparency for Oklahoma citizens,” FOI Oklahoma Executive Director Andy Moore posted to the watchdog organization’s website.