LB596 allows Lancaster County to rely more on website and digital notices for meeting postings

Deputy County Clerk Courtney Lyons briefed the Lancaster County Board on July 9 about recent changes to Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act enacted through LB596 and how the county should respond.

Lyons said LB596 allows counties to publish required notices in a digital newspaper when the print option is unavailable (a change of practical importance on Mondays when the Lincoln Journal Star is digital‑only). The law also removes a strict physical posting requirement for the Open Meetings Act location and instead requires the county to keep a copy available — Lyons said she will include a link to the Act in agendas and maintain physical copies as needed.

A significant operational change under LB596 lets counties publish a regular meeting schedule quarterly rather than issuing a separate newspaper notice for every meeting. Lyons said the Board must designate what additional public notice it wants for meetings held outside the regular Tuesday and Thursday schedule; she will convey the Board’s preference to the County Attorney’s Office, which is drafting a resolution. Lyons stressed that public hearings still require separate newspaper notice and noted that smaller counties often rely on community bulletin boards while larger counties post agendas online at least 24 hours in advance.

The Board agreed that website posting is sensible and consistent; Lyons will reflect that preference in the draft resolution.