S. 4857

119 S4857 IS: Open Meetings Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-06-23
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 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4857  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   June 23, 2026   Ms. Hirono  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To amend  chapter 15  of title 28, United States Code, with respect to documentation requirements for a meeting of certain conferences and councils.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Open Meetings Act of 2026  .
2.
Documentation requirement for meeting of certain conferences and councils
(a)
In general
 Chapter 15  of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
336.
Documentation requirement for meeting of certain conferences and councils
(a)
Definition
In this section, the term  covered meeting  means a meeting of a conference or council undertaken pursuant to this chapter.
(b)
Notice Requirement
(1)
In general
Not later than 30 days before a covered meeting, the Judicial Conference shall publish notice of the covered meeting on the internet website of the Judicial Conference, including the date, time, place, and agenda of the covered meeting.
(2)
Exception
The Judicial Conference may waive for good cause the requirement under paragraph (1). If the Judicial Conference waives the requirement under paragraph (1), the Judicial Conference shall publish an explanation for why the requirement was not met on the internet website of the Judicial Conference.
(c)
Live audio streaming requirement
(1)
In general
Each covered meeting shall provide live audio streaming, accessible to the public without charge or registration.
(2)
Record
The Judicial Conference shall maintain an archive of each live audio stream provided pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)
Publication
Not later than 7 days after the date of a covered meeting, the Judicial Conference shall publish on the internet website of the Judicial Conference an archive of the live audio stream required under paragraph (1) in a manner that is accessible to the public without charge or registration.
(4)
Exception
(A)
In general
During each covered meeting, the conference or council—
(i)
shall resolve into a closed session when publication of the matter at issue is prohibited by law; or
(ii)
may, by a majority vote, resolve into a closed session as determined appropriate by the conference or council for consideration of a sensitive or confidential matter.
(B)
Statement
Prior to resolving into a closed session under subparagraph (A), the conference or council shall state the reason for so resolving.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections for  chapter 15  of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
336. Documentation requirement for meeting of certain conferences and councils.
  .