*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on July 17, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation affecting this section, click this link: Permanent Version.*

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:

1. (1)

   1. (A) "Meeting" means any gathering of a quorum of the members of a public body, including hearings and roundtables, whether formal or informal, regular, special, or emergency, at which the members consider, conduct, or advise on public business, including gathering information, taking testimony, discussing, deliberating, recommending, and voting, regardless of whether held in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of communication.

   2. (B) The term "meeting" shall not include:

      1. (i) A chance or social gathering; provided, that it is not held to avoid the provisions of this paragraph; or
      2. (ii) A press conference.
   3. (C) For the purposes of the Council of the District of Columbia, the term "meeting" means a regular or additional legislative meeting, and committee meetings where votes are taken.
2. (2) "Office of Open Government" means the Office of Open Government established by § 1-1162.05b.

3. (3) “Public body” means any government council, including the Council of the District of Columbia, board, commission, or similar entity, including a board of directors of an instrumentality, a board which supervises or controls an agency, the board of trustees of a public charter school, or an advisory body that takes official action by the vote of its members convened for such purpose. The term “public body” shall not include:

   1. (A) A District agency or instrumentality (other than the board which supervises or controls an agency or the board of directors of an instrumentality);
   2. (B) The District of Columbia courts;
   3. (C) Repealed.
   4. (D) The Mayor’s cabinet;
   5. (E) The professional or administrative staff of public bodies when they meet outside the presence of a quorum of those bodies;
   6. (F) Advisory Neighborhood Commissions; provided, that this subchapter shall not affect the requirements set forth in § 1-309.11; or
   7. (G) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

History

Oct. 21, 1968, Pub. L. 90-614, title IV, § 404

as added Mar. 31, 2011, D.C. Law 18-350, § 2, 58 DCR 734

Oct. 30, 2018, D.C. Law 22-168, § 1084(b)

Dec. 3, 2020, D.C. Law 23-149, § 4057(a)

Apr. 18, 2026, D.C. Act 26-297, § 2(a)

Section References

This section is referenced in § 2-575.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 1084(b) of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-434, July 30, 2018, 65 DCR 8200).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 1084(b) of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-458, Oct. 3, 2018, 65 DCR 11212).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-41, Apr. 7, 2025, 72 DCR 4070).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Open Meetings Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-110, July 22, 2025, 72 DCR 8018).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Open Meetings Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Act 26-297, Apr. 18, 2026, 73 DCR 6260).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Open Meetings Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-24, Aug. 16, 2025, 72 DCR 7532).