Open Meetings Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9408
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Law
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T22:22:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Open Meetings Act of 2026 (H.R. 9408)
Purpose
This legislation aims to increase transparency in meetings of certain judicial conferences and councils by requiring public notice, live audio streaming, and archiving of proceedings.
Key Provisions
- Definition: A "covered meeting" refers to any meeting of a conference or council held under chapter 15 of title 28, United States Code.
- Notice Requirement: The Judicial Conference must publish notice of each covered meeting—including date, time, place, and agenda—on its website at least 30 days in advance. An exception allows waiver for good cause, provided an explanation is published.
- Live Audio Streaming: Each covered meeting must include live audio streaming accessible to the public at no cost and without registration. The Judicial Conference must maintain an archive of the stream and publish it on its website within 7 days after the meeting.
- Closed Sessions: A conference or council may enter a closed session if required by law or, by majority vote, for sensitive or confidential matters. The reason must be stated before closing the session.
- Clerical Amendment: Adds the new section 336 to the table of sections for chapter 15 of title 28.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill introduces a new statutory requirement (28 U.S.C. § 336) that did not previously exist, mandating public access and documentation standards for judicial administrative meetings previously governed only by internal Judicial Conference policies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Requires the Judicial Conference to implement new technical and administrative processes for notice, streaming, and archiving, potentially increasing operational costs and workload.
- On Citizens: Provides the public with greater access to judicial administrative discussions without barriers such as registration or fees.
- On International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Judicial Conference of the United States and its conferences/councils.
- Federal judges and court administrators involved in these meetings.
- Members of the public, advocacy groups, and media interested in judicial administration.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The measure promotes open government principles in the judicial branch by codifying transparency requirements. It includes explicit exceptions for confidentiality, balancing openness with legal protections. No direct constitutional conflicts are evident in the text, though it intersects with broader discussions of judicial independence and public access to government proceedings.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-23: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Open Meetings Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-23 — PDF (4 pages)