Int. No. 867
By Council Member Epstein, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Brewer, Thomas-Henry, De La Rosa and Louis
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to public notice of open meetings and the online publication of such notice
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 8 of title 23 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 23-808 to read as follows:
§ 23-808 Public notice of open meetings. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Advisory body. The term “advisory body” has the same meaning as set forth in section 1069.2 of the charter.
Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications.
Meeting. The term “meeting” means an official convening of 2 or more persons by an agency or advisory body for the purpose of conducting, or receiving testimony regarding, public business.
Open meeting. The term “open meeting” means a meeting that permits the general public to attend, listen, and observe its proceedings.
b. Website and mobile application. The commissioner, in consultation with the civic engagement commission, shall provide a website and mobile application that lists every open meeting. A user shall not be required to create an account to utilize such website or mobile application. Such website and mobile application shall, at a minimum:
1. Allow an agency or advisory body to submit to the commissioner, and publish, the public notice required under subdivision c of this section;
2. Categorize each open meeting by the convening agency or advisory body, meeting date, whether the meeting will permit remote participation by members of the public, and, if applicable, the borough where the meeting will be held;
3. Allow a user to filter the open meeting list by each category set forth in paragraph 2 of this subdivision; and
4. Allow a user to search the open meeting list.
c. Public notice. 1. Every agency and advisory body shall prepare a public notice for each open meeting convened by such agency or advisory body. Such notice shall include the following information:
(a) A brief description of the meeting, including a title and its subject matter;
(b) The time and place of the meeting;
(c) The name of any agency or advisory body representative or guest attending the meeting, if known;
(d) Whether a member of the public may testify or otherwise participate in the meeting;
(e) Whether the meeting will be streamed live over the internet or conducted using videoconferencing software;
(f) If the meeting will be streamed live over the internet or conducted using videoconferencing software, the uniform resource locator to access the website hosting the livestream or videoconference; and
(g) Any additional information necessary for the public to attend or participate in the meeting.
2. Every agency and advisory body shall submit the notice required under paragraph 1 of this subdivision to the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee, or, if permitted by the commissioner, publish such notice on the website and mobile application provided under subdivision b of this section directly:
(a) At least 72-hours before the open meeting, if the agency or advisory body scheduled the meeting at least 1 week in advance; or
(b) To the extent practicable, at a reasonable time before the meeting, if the agency or advisory body scheduled the meeting less than 1 week in advance.
3. The commissioner shall publish each public notice submitted to such commissioner pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision on the website and mobile application provided under subdivision b of this section as soon as practicable after receipt, and, to the extent practicable, at a reasonable time before the meeting to provide the public with a meaningful opportunity to attend the meeting.
d. Exemptions. This section does not apply to adjudicatory hearings for violations of this code, the charter, any rules promulgated pursuant to this code or the charter, or any other laws, rules, regulations, or policies enforced or implemented by an agency through the conduct of adjudications.
e. Construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to invalidate an otherwise valid action taken by an agency or an advisory body, or to prohibit or invalidate the convening of a required meeting by an agency or advisory body, solely because such agency or advisory body violated a provision of this section.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.
ALK
LS #21141/4261
04/24/2026 12:41 PM