# Chapter 42.30 RCW Open public meetings act

RCW Sections 

## 42.30.010 Legislative declaration.

42.30.020 Definitions.

42.30.030 Meetings declared open and public.

42.30.040 Conditions to attendance not to be required.

42.30.050 Interruptions -- Procedure.

42.30.060 Ordinances, rules, resolutions, regulat ions, etc., adopted at public meetings -- Notice -- Secret voting prohibited.

42.30.070 Times and places for meetings -- Emergencies -- Exception.

42.30.075 Schedule of regular meetings -- Publicat ion in state register -- Notice of change -- "Regular" meetings defined.

42.30.080 Special meetings.

42.30.090 Adjournments.

42.30.100 Continuances.

42.30.110 Executive sessions.

42.30.120 Violations -- Personal liability -- P enalty -- Attorney fees and costs.

42.30.130 Violations -- Mandamus or injunction.

42.30.140 Chapter controlling -- Application.

42.30.200 Governing body of recognized student asso ciation at college or university -- Chapter applicability to.

42.30.210 Assistance by attorney general.

42.30.900 Short title.

42.30.910 Construction -- 1971 ex.s. c 250.

42.30.920 Severability -- 1971 ex.s. c 250.

Notes: 

## Drug reimbursement policy recommendations: RCW 74.09.653

.

42.30.010 Legislative declaration.

The legislature finds and declares that all public co mmissions, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, departments, divisions, offices, and all other public agencies of this state and subdivisions thereof exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of this chapte r that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.The people of this state do not yield their soverei gnty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decid e what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining inform ed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 1.]

Notes:



## Reviser's note: Throughout this chapter, the phras es "this act" and "this 1971 amendatory act" have been changed to "this c hapter." "This act" [1971 ex.s. c 250] consists of this chapt er, the amendment to RCW 34.04.025 , and the repeal of RCW 42.32.010 and 42.32.020

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42.30.020 Definitions.

As used in this chapter unless the context indicates otherwise:

(1) "Public agency" means:

(a) Any state board, commission, committee, department , educational institution, or other state agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, other than courts and the legislature;

(b) Any county, city, school district, special purpose dist rict, or other municipal corpor ation or political subdivision of the state of Washington;

(c) Any subagency of a public agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, or dinance, or other legislative act, including but not limited to planning commissions , library or park boards, commissions, and agencies;

(d) Any policy group whose membership includes repr esentatives of publicly owned utilities formed by or pursuant to the laws of this state when meetin g together as or on behalf of participa nts who have contracted for the output of generating plants being planned or built by an operating agency.

(2) "Governing body" means the multimember board, commission, committee, council, or other policy or rulemaking body of a public agency, or any committee thereof when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or public comment.

(3) "Action" means the transaction of the official busi ness of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discu ssions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions. "Final action" means a collective positive or ne gative decision, or an actual vote by a majority of the members of a governing body when sitting as a body or entity, upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance.

(4) "Meeting" means meetings at which action is taken.

[1985 c 366 § 1; 1983 c 155 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 43 § 10; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 2.]

Notes:



## Severability -- Savings -- 1982 1st ex.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.52.374

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## 42.30.030 Meetings declared open and public.

All meetings of the governing body of a public agency shall be open and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the governing body of a public agenc y, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 3.]



## 42.30.040 Conditions to attendance not to be required.

A member of the public shall not be required, as a condi tion to attendance at a meeting of a governing body, to register his name and other information, to complete a questi onnaire, or otherwise to fulfill any condition precedent to his attendance.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 4.]



## 42.30.050 Interruptions — Procedure.

In the event that any meeting is interrupted by a group or groups of persons so as to render the orderly conduct of such meeting unfeasible and order cannot be restored by the removal of individu als who are interrupting the meeting, the members of the governing body co nducting the meeting may order the m eeting room cleared and continue in session or may adjourn the meeting and reconvene at another location selected by majority vote of the members. In such a session, final disposition may be taken only on matters appearing on the agenda. Representatives of the press or other news media, except those participating in the disturbance, shall be allowed to attend any session held pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the governing body from establishing a procedure for readmitting an individual or individuals not responsible for disturbing the orderly conduct of the meeting.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 5.]



## 42.30.060 Ordinances, rules, resolutions, regulations , etc., adopted at public meetings — Notice — Secret voting prohibited.

(1) No governing body of a public agency shall adopt any or dinance, resolution, rule, regul ation, order, or directive, except in a meeting open to the public and then only at a meet ing, the date of which is fixed by law or rule, or at a meeting of which notice has been given according to the pr ovisions of this chapter. An y action taken at meetings failing to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be null and void.

(2) No governing body of a public agency at any meet ing required to be open to the public shall vote by secret ballot. Any vote taken in violation of this subsection shall be null and void, and shall be considered an "action" under this chapter.

[1989 c 42 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 6.]

## 42.30.070 Times and places for meetings — Emergencies — Exception.

The governing body of a public agency shall provide the time for holding regular meetings by ordinance, resolution, bylaws, or by whatever other rule is required for the c onduct of business by that body. Unless otherwise provided for in the act under which the public agency was formed, meet ings of the governing body need not be held within the boundaries of the territory over which the public agency exer cises jurisdiction. If at any ti me any regular meeting falls on a holiday, such regular meet ing shall be held on the next business day. If, by reason of fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency, there is a need for expedited action by a governing body to meet the emergency, the presiding officer of the governing body may provide for a meeting si te other than the regular meeting site and the notice requirements of this chapter shall be suspended during such emergency. It shall not be a violation of the requirements of this chapter for a majority of the mem bers of a governing body to travel together or gather for purposes other than a regular meeting or a special meeting as these terms are used in this chapter: PROVIDED, That they take no action as defined in this chapter.

[1983 c 155 § 2; 1973 c 66 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 7.]



## 42.30.075 Schedule of regular meetings — Publication in state re gister — Notice of change — "Regular" meetings defined.

State agencies which hold regular meetings shall file with the code reviser a schedule of the time and place of such meetings on or before January of each year for publication in the Washington state register. Notice of any change from such meeting schedule shall be published in the state r egister for distribution at least twenty days prior to the rescheduled meeting date.

For the purposes of this section "regular" meetings shall mean recurring meetings held in accordance with a periodic schedule declared by statute or rule.

[1977 ex.s. c 240 § 12.]

Notes:



## Effective date -- Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 240: See RCW 34.08.905 and 34.08.910

.
Public meeting notices in state register: RCW 34.08.020

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42.30.080 Special meetings.

A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the governing body of a public agency or by a majority of the members of the governing body by delivering wr itten notice personally, by mail, by fax, or by electronic mail to each member of the governing body; and to each lo cal newspaper of general circulation and to each local radio or television station which has on file with the governi ng body a written request to be notified of such special meeting or of all special meetings. Such notice must be deliv ered personally, by mail, by fax, or by electronic mail at least twenty-four hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The ca ll and notice shall specify thetime and place of the special meeting an d the business to be transacted. Final disposition shall not be taken on any other matter at such meetings by the governing body. Such written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meetin g convenes files with the clerk or secr etary of the governing body a written waiver of notice. Such waiver may be given by telegram, by fax, or electronic mail. Such written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually pres ent at the meeting at the ti me it convenes. The notices provided in this section may be dispensed with in the even t a special meeting is called to deal with an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the lik elihood of such injury or damage, when time requirements of such notice would make notice impractical and incr ease the likelihood of such injury or damage.

[2005 c 273 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 8.]



## 42.30.090 Adjournments.

The governing body of a public agency may adjourn any regular , adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting to a time and place specified in the order of ad journment. Less than a quorum may so adjourn from time to time. If all members are absent from any regular or adjourne d regular meeting the clerk or secretary of the governing body may declare the meeting adjourned to a stated time and place. He s hall cause a written notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided in RCW 42.30.080 for special meetings, unless such notice is waived as provided for special meetings. Whenever any m eeting is adjourned a copy of the order or notice of adjournment shall be conspicuously posted immediately after the time of the adjournment on or near the door of the place where the regular, adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting was held. When a regular or adjourned regular meeting is adjourned as provided in this section, the resulting adj ourned regular meeting is a regular meeting for all purposes. When an order of adjournment of any meeting fails to state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for regular meetings by ordinance, resolution, bylaw, or other rule.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 9.]



## 42.30.100 Continuances.

Any hearing being held, noticed, or ordered to be held by a governing body at any meetin g may by order or notice of continuance be continued or recontinu ed to any subsequent meeting of the gover ning body in the same manner and to the same extent set forth in RCW 42.30.090 for the adjournment of meetings.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 10.]



## 42.30.110 Executive sessions.

(1) Nothing contained in this chapter may be construe d to prevent a governing body from holding an executive session during a regular or special meeting:

(a) To consider matters affecting national security;

(b) To consider the selection of a site or the acquisit ion of real estate by lease or purchase when public knowledge regarding such consideration would c ause a likelihood of increased price;(c) To consider the minimum price at which real estate will be offered for sale or lease when public knowledge regarding such consideration would cause a likelihood of dec reased price. However, final action selling or leasing public property shall be taken in a meeting open to the public;

(d) To review negotiations on the performance of p ublicly bid contracts when public knowledge regarding such consideration would cause a lik elihood of increased costs;

(e) To consider, in the case of an export tradi ng company, financial and commercial information supplied by private persons to the export trading company;

(f) To receive and evaluate complaints or charges br ought against a public officer or employee. However, upon the request of such officer or employee, a public hearing or a meeting open to the public shall be conducted upon such complaint or charge;

(g) To evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. However, subject to RCW 42.30.140 (4), discussion by a governing body of salaries, wages, and other conditions of employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur in a meeting open to the public, and when a governing body elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary of an individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or disciplining an employee, that action shall be taken in a meeting open to the public;

(h) To evaluate the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office. However, any interview of such candidate and final action appointing a candidate to elective office shall be in a meeting open to the public;

(i) To discuss with legal counsel representing the a gency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to whic h the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency.

This subsection (1)(i) does not permit a governing body to hold an executive session solely because an attorney representing the agency is present. For purposes of this subsection (1)(i), "potential litigation" means matters protected by RPC 1.6 or RCW 5.60.060 (2)(a) concerning:

(i) Litigation that has been specifically threatened to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party;

(ii) Litigation that the agency reasonably believes may be commenced by or against the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity; or

(iii) Litigation or legal risks of a proposed action or current practice that the agency has identified when public discussion of the lit igation or lega l risks is likely to result in an adverse lega l or financial conseq uence to the agency;

(j) To consider, in the case of the state library commission or its advisory bodies, western library network prices, products, equipment, and services, when such discussion would be likely to adversely affect the network's ability to conduct business in a competitive econom ic climate. However, final action on these matters shall be taken in a meeting open to the public;

(k) To consider, in the case of the state inve stment board, financial and commercial information when the information relates to the investment of public trust or re tirement funds and when public knowledge regarding the discussion would result in loss to such funds or in private loss to the providers of this information;

(l) To consider proprietary or confidential nonpub lished information related to the development, acquisition, or implementation of state pur chased health care services as provided in RCW 41.05.026 ;

(m) To consider in the case of the life sciences disc overy fund authority, the substanc e of grant applications and grant awards when public knowledge regarding the discussion would reasonably be expected to result in private loss to the providers of this information;

(n) To consider in the case of a health sciences a nd services authority, the substance of grant applications and grant awards when public knowledge regarding the discussion would reasonably be expected to result in private loss to the providers of this information;(o) To consider in the case of innovate Washington, the substance of grant or loan applications and grant or loan awards if public knowledge regarding the discussion would reasonably be expected to result in private loss to the providers of this information.

(2) Before convening in executive session, the pr esiding officer of a governing body shall publicly announce the purpose for excluding the public from the meeting place, an d the time when the executive session will be concluded. The executive session may be extended to a stated late r time by announcement of the presiding officer.

[2011 1st sp.s. c 14 § 14; 2010 1st sp.s. c 33 § 5; 2005 c 424 § 13; 2003 c 277 § 1; 2001 c 216 § 1; 1989 c 238 § 2; 1987 c 389 § 3; 1986 c 276 § 8; 1985 c 366 § 2; 1983 c 155 § 3; 1979 c 42 § 1; 1973 c 66 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 11.]

Notes:



## Effective date -- 2011 1st sp.s. c 14: See RCW 43.333.901

. Captions not law -- Liberal constructi on -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 2005 c 424: See RCW 43.350.900 through 43.350.903

. Severability -- Effective date -- 1987 c 389: See notes following RCW 41.06.070

. Severability -- 1986 c 276: See RCW 53.31.901

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42.30.120 Violations — Personal liability — Penalty — Attorney fees and costs.

(1) Each member of the governing body who attends a me eting of such governing body where action is taken in violation of any provision of this chapter applicable to him, with knowledge of t he fact that the meet ing is in violation thereof, shall be subject to personal liability in the form of a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars. The civil penalty shall be assessed by a judge of the superior court and an action to enforce this penalty may be brought by any person. A violation of this chapter does not consti tute a crime and assessment of the civil penalty by a judge shall not give rise to any disability or legal disadvantage based on conviction of a criminal offense.

(2) Any person who prevails against a public agency in an y action in the courts for a violation of this chapter shall be awarded all costs, including reasonable attorney fees, in curred in connection with such legal action. Pursuant to RCW 4.84.185 , any public agency who prevails in any action in t he courts for a violation of this chapter may be awarded reasonable expenses and attorney fees upon final judg ment and written findings by the trial judge that the action was frivolous and advanced without reasonable cause.

[1985 c 69 § 1; 1973 c 66 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 12.]



## 42.30.130 Violations — Mandamus or injunction.

Any person may commence an action either by mandamus or injunction for the purpose of stopping violations or preventing threatened violations of this c hapter by members of a governing body.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 13.]

## 42.30.140 Chapter controlling — Application.

If any provision of this chapter conflicts with the provisions of any other statute, the provisions of this chapter shall control: PROVIDED, That this chapter shall not apply to:

(1) The proceedings concerned with the formal issu ance of an order granting, suspending, revoking, or denying any license, permit, or certificate to engage in any business, occupation, or profession or to any disciplinary proceedings involving a member of such business, occupati on, or profession, or to receive a license for a sports activity or to operate any mechanical device or motor vehicle where a license or registration is necessary; or

(2) That portion of a meeting of a quasi-judicial body which relates to a quasi-judicial matter between named parties as distinguished from a matter having general effect on the public or on a class or group; or

(3) Matters governed by chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act; or

(4)(a) Collective bargaining sessions with employee organizations, including contract negotiations, grievance meetings, and discussions relating to the interpretation or a pplication of a labor agreemen t; or (b) that portion of a meeting during which the governing body is planning or adopt ing the strategy or position to be taken by the governing body during the course of any collective bargaining, profes sional negotiations, or grievance or mediation proceedings, or reviewing the proposals made in the negoti ations or proceedings while in progress.

[1990 c 98 § 1; 1989 c 175 § 94; 1973 c 66 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 250 § 14.]

Notes:



## Effective date -- 1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010

. Drug reimbursement policy recommendations: RCW 74.09.653

. Mediation testimony competency: RCW 5.60.070 and 5.60.072

.

42.30.200 Governing body of recognized student asso ciation at college or university — Chapter applicability to.

The multimember student board which is the governing body of the recognized student association at a given campus of a public institution of hi gher education is hereby declared to be subj ect to the provisions of the open public meetings act as contained in this chapter, as now or hereafter amended. For the purposes of this section, "recognized student association" shall mean any body at any of the state's colleges a nd universities which selects officers through a process approved by the student body and which represents the inte rests of students. Any such body so selected shall be recognized by and registered with the respective boards of tr ustees and regents of the state's colleges and universities: PROVIDED, That ther e be no more than one such association representing undergraduate students, no more than one such associat ion representing graduate st udents, and no more than one such association representing each group of professional students so recognized and register ed at any of the state's colleges or universities.

[1980 c 49 § 1.]

## 42.30.210 Assistance by attorney general.

The attorney general's office may provide information, tec hnical assistance, and training on the provisions of this chapter.

[2001 c 216 § 2.]



## 42.30.900 Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the "O pen Public Meetings Act of 1971".

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 16.]



## 42.30.910 Construction — 1971 ex.s. c 250.

The purposes of this chapter ar e hereby declared remedial and shall be liberally construed.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 18.]



## 42.30.920 Severability — 1971 ex.s. c 250.

If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provisio n to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

[1971 ex.s. c 250 § 19.]