(Boston—3/20/2025) Today, the Massachusetts Legislature passed legislation to extend the hybrid public meeting option, allowing cities and towns to offer remote participation through June 2027. The extension applies to public bodies and representative town meetings.   

Hybrid meetings enable more civic participation by residents who otherwise might have limited access to public meetings.  

“Many local officials, residents, and businesses have reached out in recent days to ask for an extension of hybrid public meeting options beyond the upcoming expiration date. Today, during our session at the State House, I was proud to join my legislative colleagues in taking action to pass a bill extending the hybrid option through June 2027. Extending the hybrid meeting option means extending more opportunities for civic participation in local government for residents and businesses who may otherwise be unable to take part in the public meeting process. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, we've learned a lot about the impacts of certain pandemic-era public safety measures such as remote participation in public meetings. It is clear that this measure has been a success and should be preserved to ensure all those newly able to participate in public meetings can continue to make their voices heard,” said Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough). 

The Massachusetts Municipal Association estimates that there are over 10,000 boards, committees, and commissions across Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns. Most officials serving on the panels do so on a volunteer basis.   

Having passed both branches of the Legislature, the bill will now be sent to the Governor for her signature.   

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