Legislation Would Require online access to Meeting Notices

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, has filed legislation to improve transparency and access to legal and government meeting notices. Senate Bill 254 would require legal notices and meeting notices of government proceedings to be published online.

Bullard said the 2020 Oklahoma Supreme Court case, Purcell v. Parker, which established the need for additional notification besides in a printed newspaper to suffice as proper public notice, was just one example of why the new law is needed.

“This state Supreme Court case and situations at various levels of government have made it apparent that online notification is necessary to properly inform citizens of public meetings and legal notices,” Bullard said. “We live in a digital age where very few people subscribe to print newspapers, instead getting their information off the internet. This change will allow more citizens to stay up to date and involved with their local governments and other legal matters.”

The bill may be considered once the legislative session begins in February.