Municipal leaders, disability advocates, and open government organizations have voiced their support for H. 3299, a bill introduced by Representative Antonio Cabral. The legislation aims to update Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law by requiring that public meetings be accessible both in person and online.
Supporters argue that the proposed change would make it easier for a wider range of residents to participate in government meetings. They say that hybrid meetings would benefit working families, people with disabilities, and others who cannot attend in person.
Dianna Hu, chair of the Boston Center for Independent Living, stated, “The flexibility of hybrid removes structural barriers and enables civic engagement as a civil right–whether for people with disabilities, with limited access to transportation, with a daytime job, with children at home, or with an interest in good government. Accessibility is a requirement. We now have this opportunity to make hybrid access a curb cut 2.0 for the modern age.”
Geoff Foster, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, said, “From virtual doctor’s appointments to work meetings and job interviews, the option to participate remotely has greatly expanded in all aspects of our life post-pandemic. Access to government meetings should be no different. Requiring hybrid access for public meetings will make it more convenient for Bay Staters to participate in their government, leading to increased transparency and accountability.”
Celia Canavan, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, commented, “Our 44 local Leagues and 3,000 members across the Commonwealth are deeply involved in their local governments, and have seen firsthand the barriers that the lack of access to public meetings poses to women, especially mothers, caretakers, and women of color. The League strongly supports this bill to ensure that all residents are able to participate in local government meetings that make critical decisions about their lives.”
Deirdre Cummings, legislative director for MASSPIRG, said, “Government participation and transparency is the cornerstone to a strong democracy. This bill provides for both, making government meetings more accessible and transparent.”
Gavi Wolfe, legislative director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, stated, “Hybrid meetings are the only way to maximize public access to government deliberations. We can no longer accept the exclusion of large segments of the population from the democratic process simply because inclusion has a price tag or because change is inconvenient. We can do better, and we know how. In fact, nearly half of all Massachusetts city councils and select boards are already conducting hybrid meetings. The legislature should update the Open Meeting Law to guarantee hybrid meetings across the Commonwealth moving forward.”
Barbara L’Italien, executive director of the Disability Law Center, added, “A guiding principle of the disability justice movement is ‘Nothing About Us Without Us.’ By focusing on inclusion and equity, and welcoming the participation of 11.5% of the population, our communities and our democracy will only become stronger.”
The bill has received support from several organizations, including the ACLU of Massachusetts, Boston Center for Independent Living, Common Cause Massachusetts, Disability Law Center, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, MASSPIRG, New England First Amendment Coalition, and New England Newspaper & Press Association.
