AN ACT to make modifications to the law regarding remote meetings by public bodies during a state of emergency.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 166A‑19.24 reads as rewritten:

§ 166A‑19.24.  Remote meetings during certain declarations of emergency.

(a)        Remote Meetings. – Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon issuance of a declaration of emergency under G.S. 166A‑19.20, G.S. 166A‑19.20 or G.S. 166A‑19.22, any public body within the emergency area may conduct remote meetings in accordance with this section and Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes throughout the duration of that declaration of emergency. It is presumed that a remote meeting is open to the public if the public body has complied with the requirements of this section.

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(b1)      Change In‑Person Meeting to Remote Meeting. – A public body that has issued a notice for an in‑person meeting may amend the notice to make the meeting a remote meeting no later than six hours prior to the noticed time for the in‑person meeting. The revised notice and the remote meeting shall comply with all the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

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(e)        Public Hearings. – A public body may conduct any public hearing required or authorized by law during a remote meeting, and take action thereon, provided the public body allows for written comments on the subject of the public hearing to be submitted between publication of any required notice and 24 hours after prior to the noticed time for the public hearing.

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SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.