Any state board, commission, committee, department, educational institution, or other state agency that is created by statute.Ī “public agency” is defined in RCW 42.30.020 (1) to include: The OPMA requires that meetings of the “governing body” of a "public agency" be open to the public. Exceptions to the openness requirements of the OPMA (such as the grounds for executive sessions) are narrowly construed. The OPMA also provides that, “The purposes of this chapter are hereby declared remedial and shall be liberally construed.” RCW 42.30.910. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. It is the intent of this chapter that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.
The legislature finds and declares that all public commissions, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, departments, divisions, offices, and all other public agencies of this state and subdivisions thereof exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. RCW 42.30.010 declares the OPMA’s purpose in a strongly worded statement: The OPMA and the Public Records Act (PRA), chapter 42.56 RCW, create important and powerful tools enabling the people to inform themselves about their government, both state and local.ģ.2 The Courts Will Interpret the OPMA to Accomplish Its Stated IntentĪs with all laws, the courts will interpret the OPMA to accomplish the Legislature's intent. It was modeled on a California law known as the "Brown Act" and a similar Florida statute. The Open Public Meetings Act (“OPMA”), chapter 42.30 RCW, was passed by the Legislature in 1971 as a part of a nationwide effort to make government affairs more open, accessible and responsive. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Open Government Ombuds by email at Introduction We are in the process of updating this chapter. Amendments included provisions for required public comment at regular meetings, procedures for remote meetings, as well as other changes. Amendments are included in the on-line publication of the OPMA, chapter 42.30 RCW. The Legislature amended the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) during the 2022 session ESHB 1329.
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