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Open Meetings

Open Meetings Act

Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA), MCL 15.261 et seq, requires certain public bodies to conduct nearly all business at meetings open to the public. 

In this way, the OMA strengthens the right of all Michigan RESIDENTS to know what goes on in government by shedding light on the official acts of public bodies and enhancing responsible decision making; thus, promoting governmental accountability. 

The OMA provides that all persons must be permitted to attend a public meeting, including the rights to record the meeting and to address the meeting, and that persons cannot be required to fulfill a condition precedent to attendance. 

The OMA requires public bodies to give advance notice of public meetings, to make all decisions at meetings open to the public, and to keep minutes of each meeting, which are public records open to public inspection.