SB353: SB353 Open and Public Meetings; county or joint boards of election or boards of election and registration to conduct meetings via teleconference; authorize

Georgia's open meetings law (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1) generally requires public bodies to meet in person, but it lists certain bodies, such as development authorities, community improvement districts, hospital authorities, and large retirement system boards, that may meet by teleconference instead, as long as public notice is given and the public can listen in at the same time. This bill adds county or joint boards of election and boards of election and registration, the local bodies that run elections and voter registration under O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-40 and 21-2-40.1, to that list. If fewer than a quorum of members are physically in one place, the law still requires that members of the public be given a way to access the meeting at the same time it happens. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not set a separate effective date beyond the standard process.

• Adds county or joint boards of election and boards of election and registration to the list of public bodies allowed to hold meetings by teleconference under Georgia's open meetings law (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1).
• Requires that any teleconference meeting still meet the law's normal notice requirements for time and place.
• Requires that if fewer than a quorum of board members are physically present, the public must have simultaneous access to the teleconference meeting.
• Specifies that members participating by teleconference are treated as if they were physically present for quorum and voting purposes.
• Requires that if the teleconference meeting is a public hearing, members of the public be able to participate fully as if they were physically present.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this change.

County and joint boards of election and boards of election and registration across Georgia, the local officials who serve on them, and members of the public who attend or want to participate in these boards' meetings, including during elections and voter registration decisions.

Election boards handle time-sensitive tasks like certifying results and resolving registration issues, and this change would let members meet remotely rather than requiring everyone to gather in person, while still requiring the public to be able to watch or participate at the same time.

• Section 1 revises subsection (h) of O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1 to add a new category (E): county or joint boards of election or boards of election and registration established under O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-40 or 21-2-40.1.
• Section 1 keeps the existing requirement that public notice be provided for any teleconference meeting to comply with the open meetings law.
• Section 1 keeps the requirement that if fewer than a quorum is physically present, the public must have simultaneous access to the meeting.
• Section 1 clarifies that teleconference participation counts as full participation, the same as being physically present, including during public hearings.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause with no substantive effect beyond this bill's own changes.

1. 2025-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-21Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)Primary sponsor
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)

• election administration
• open meetings law
• county boards of election
• teleconference meetings