Community Leaders Call for Special Session to amend the Open Meetings Act
The legislature previously amended Oklahoma's Open Meetings Act to include virtual meetings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Nearly 200 local elected officials and non-profit leaders signed an open letter to the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Kevin Stitt asking them to call a special session.
"We ask that you call a special legislative session and amend Oklahoma’s Open Meetings Act to include virtual meetings again. We cannot wait months for the next legislative session in the height of this pandemic and what is expected to be an extremely deadly flu season" states the letter.
The legislature previously amended Oklahoma's Open Meetings Act to include virtual meetings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That amendment expired on November 15, 2020. All public bodies are subject to the open meetings act including non-profit organizations. The effort was organized by Oklahoma County Commissioner Carrie Blumert.
"Oklahomans rely on the work of public bodies and non-profit organizations. Right now, we cannot do that work safely because of the restrictions of the Open Meetings Act. We need state leaders to do their job so that we can do ours" said Blumert.
Signers include representatives from eight municipalities, the Center for Non-Profits, the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, and over 100 non-profit leaders.