Bill to clarify social-media livestreaming for public meetings moves to next committee

The committee considered House File 3295, a bill to clarify that public bodies may use social-media platforms to livestream open meetings under existing Open Meeting Law statutes.

Representative Gordon said the measure aims to remove uncertainty for local officials who want to livestream meetings and to promote public access. Nonpartisan staff explained that the bill interprets existing provisions on interactive technology to include common features of social platforms, but does not override current statutory notice requirements or other obligations. "This clarifies that social-media platform could be used under those existing statutes to live broadcast," the staffer said, adding that the bill "does not override those other requirements currently in law regarding the use of interactive technologies."

Staff also noted a question the committee flagged about whether comments posted via a social-media platform should be considered government records; if comments are accepted as part of the public-comment process they may create recordkeeping obligations. The bill’s author agreed to work with stakeholders on that clarification.

The committee referred HF 3295 to the Committee on Elections, Finance and Government Operations for further review by voice vote.