Bill Sponsor
Colorado Senate Bill 157
Session 2024A
Colorado Open Meetings Law for the General Assembly
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Mar 12, 2024
Sponsors
Democrat
Stephen Fenberg
Democrat
Julie McCluskie
Democrat
Chris Kennedy
First Action
Feb 13, 2024
Latest Action
Mar 12, 2024
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
157
State
Colorado
Session
2024A
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Summary
Under the Colorado open meetings law (COML), any meeting of a body of the general assembly at which the adoption of any proposed policy, position, resolution, rule, regulation, or formal action occurs or at which a majority or quorum of a body of the general assembly is in attendance or expected to be in attendance can only be held after full and timely notice to the public. In addition, the COML requires that minutes of the meeting be taken and promptly recorded. The bill makes several changes and clarifications concerning the application of the COML to the general assembly and its members. Specifically, the bill provides that, for purposes of applying the notice and minutes provisions under the COML, a quorum of a state public body of the general assembly must be contemporaneous. Additionally, the bill establishes that written communication, electronic or otherwise, exchanged between members of the general assembly are not subject to the COML but any records of the communications are subject to disclosure to the extent required by the "Colorado Open Records Act". The bill also defines "public business", for purposes of the application of the COML to the general assembly, as introduced legislation, including bills, resolutions, and memorials, proposed legislation, if a draft of the proposed legislation prepared by the office of legislative legal services is being discussed by a quorum of a statutory committee or committee of reference during a regular or special legislative session or by a quorum of any type of interim committee, or other matters before a statutory committee, any type of interim committee, or a committee of reference. Introduced legislation and proposed legislation includes a bill, resolution, and memorial. However, "public business" does not include matters that are by nature interpersonal, administrative, or logistical or that concern personnel, planning, process, training, or operations, as long as the merits or substance of matters that are expressly defined as being public business are not discussed. Additionally, in 2024, 2025, and 2026, the executive committee of the legislative council shall consider at a meeting the application of the COML to the general assembly and there must be the opportunity for public comment to be received in connection with the meeting. On or after January 1, 2027, such a meeting shall be held upon the request of a member of the executive committee of the legislative council. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Actions (12)
03/12/2024
Office of the Governor
Governor Signed
03/12/2024
Office of the Governor
Sent to the Governor
03/12/2024
House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/11/2024
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
03/11/2024
House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
03/08/2024
House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
03/06/2024
House
House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/04/2024
House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
03/04/2024
Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
03/01/2024
Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
02/28/2024
Senate
Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/13/2024
Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
Sources
Record Created
Feb 14, 2024 5:07:53 PM
Record Updated
Mar 15, 2024 1:59:06 AM