M1E1A

The Act makes no distinction between regular, special, emergency, formal or informal meetings. See City of New Carrollton v. Rogers, 287 Md. 56, 410 A.2d 1070 (1980).

There is no specific definition of a "regular" meeting under the Public Meetings Law. However, ORS 192.640(1) and (3) distinguish between regular meetings and special meetings. Under this scheme, regular meetings appear to be meetings regularly scheduled with significant advance notice.

Neither the Bagley-Keene Act nor Brown Act defines the term "regular meeting." The Brown Act requires that each legislative body of a local agency, except for advisory or standing committees, provide by ordinance, resolution, bylaws or other rule the time and place for holding "regular meetings." Cal. Gov't Code § 54954(a). A meeting of an advisory or standing committee, where an agenda is posted at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting, is considered a regular meeting of the legislative body. Cal. Gov't Code § 54954(a).

"Any corporal convening and deliberation of a governmental body for which a quorum is required in order to make a decision at which any public business or public policy matter over which the governmental body has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power is discussed or considered." G.L. c. 39, §  23A. At least one case tends to construe "meeting" narrowly. Medlock v. Board of Trustees of University of Massachusetts, 31 Mass. App. Ct.

The OML makes reference to "regularly scheduled meetings" without further definition.

The statute does not distinguish between "regular" and "special" meetings. A general definition of "meeting" is provided under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-6-402(1)(b) as "any kind of gathering, convened to discuss public business, in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of communication." Id.

Regular meetings, which are regulated under Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 15.265, are not defined within the OMA, nor does the Act specifically require public bodies to establish regular meetings schedules. 1977-78 Op. Att'y Gen. 21, 37 (1977). However, where such a schedule is established, it must be posted yearly. See Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 15.265(2).

No express definition, but by implication those meetings that are scheduled to take place on a regular schedule. S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-80(a).

A "regular meeting" is not specifically defined in FOIA.

By implication, any regularly scheduled meeting, that is, one that is held at a regularly scheduled time and place, is a "regular" meeting. Although the term "regular" meeting is used in the statute, it is not otherwise defined. § 13D.04, subd. 1.