Maryland's Open
Meetings Act
- Introduction
- Lesson One - What is the Act?
- Lesson Two - When Does the Act Apply?
- Lesson Three - Ground Rules for Meetings Subject to the Act
- Lesson Four - Closing a Meeting
- Lesson Five - Minutes
- Lesson Six - Enforcement of the Act
- Review
- Certificate
Maryland's Open Meetings Act
An online class offered jointly by the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research and the Maryland Attorney General's Office.
Lesson One - What is the Act?
Policy, Purpose, and Effect
The Open Meetings Act requires public bodies to "meet in open session" unless the Act provides otherwise. The Act addresses:
- The public bodies and events to which it applies;
- The broad right of citizens to observe public bodies carrying out their work;
- Public notice of meetings;
- Public access to meetings;
- Public access to minutes of meetings; and
- The effect of other laws about public meetings.
