FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
JULY 23 LETTER
The New England First Amendment Coalition and several Massachusetts open government groups again called on state lawmakers to make hybrid meeting requirements a priority during this legislative session.
In a July 23 letter to Representatives Ron Mariano, Aaron Michlewitz and Tony Cabral, the advocates explained that “hybrid access remains a critical way to ensure that all people — especially people with disabilities, people with caregiving responsibilities, and people with limited transportation — can follow and participate in government activity that directly impacts their lives.”
The letter was sent on behalf of NEFAC, the ACLU of Massachusetts, Boston Center for Independent Living, Disability Law Center, Common Cause Massachusetts, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, MASSPIRG and the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
“The proof of the public benefits of hybrid access are obvious to anyone who has followed legislative hearings this session,” the groups wrote. “People from all walks of life, and all over the state, have been able to watch and testify during committee proceedings. . . . We hope you will cement the House’s leadership on these issues of transparency and access before the end of this legislative session.”
H.4771 would update the Open Meeting Law to permanently enable members of the public to access and participate in public meetings remotely, in addition to the option of attending in person. The House adopted these reforms last session but permanent changes were ultimately deferred in favor of continuing the current temporary exceptions to the in-person meeting requirement until March 2025.
NEFAC is the region’s leading advocate for the First Amendment and the public’s right to know about government. All coalition briefs, letters and statements can be found here.
Want to learn more about the Massachusetts public records law? Check out NEFAC’s multimedia FOI Guide for video tutorials, interviews with journalists and legal experts, legislation trackers and more.
NEFAC was formed in 2006 to advance and protect the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society. Our members include lawyers, journalists, historians, academics and private citizens.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
NEFAC is supported by the Estate of Gloria Negri. Additional funding is provided by Leadership Circle donors including the Rhode Island Foundation, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters of NEFAC’s work are Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, Connecticut Public, WCVB-Boston and WBUR-Boston.