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Bill

H 2272

An Act authorizing remote participation at town meetings in the town of Wayland

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jamie Eldridge and 2 co-sponsors

Allows Wayland to hold town meetings as hybrid (in-person/remote), with recordings public for 30 days, ensuring remote actions have same legal effect as in-person.

Accompanied a study order, see H4970
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 2272

Summary: House Bill H.2272 - An Act authorizing remote participation at town meetings in the town of Wayland

Overview

H.2272 proposes to authorize the town of Wayland to conduct annual and special town meetings in a hybrid format, allowing voters to participate either in a physical location, remotely, or in a fully remote setting. The bill is designed to provide Wayland with the option to enable remote participation while preserving the validity and enforceability of actions taken at such meetings.

  • Bill number and title: House Bill 2272, An Act authorizing remote participation at town meetings in the town of Wayland
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Filed: January 7, 2025 (House Docket No. 246)
  • Current status: Hearing scheduled for July 22, 2025 (1:00 PM–5:00 PM) in room B-1
  • Related action: Similar matter previously filed; House Document 246 indicates a local approval path

Main purpose and intent

  • Empower Wayland to hold annual and special town meetings as hybrid meetings that may involve voters located in a common physical location, fully remote participation, or partial remote participation.
  • Provide municipalities an option to adapt meeting formats to improve accessibility and participation, while maintaining the integrity and formal validity of meeting actions.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Authorization

    • Notwithstanding general or special laws, or charter provisions to the contrary, Wayland may conduct town meetings in a hybrid format that includes in-person, remote, or mixed participation.

  • Section 2: Recording and public access

    • Any remote or hybrid town meeting conducted under this act must be recorded.
    • The recording must be made publicly viewable on the town’s website for at least 30 days after the meeting.
    • The recording also constitutes a permanent town record, subject to public disclosure upon request.

  • Section 3: Legality of actions

    • All actions taken at remote or hybrid town meetings held under this act shall be ratified, validated, and confirmed to the same extent as if the meeting had been held entirely in person.

  • Section 4: Effective date

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected parties and potential impact

  • Affected jurisdiction: Town of Wayland
  • Stakeholders: Wayland elected/appointed officials, town meeting voters, residents who participate remotely, town administrators coordinating meeting logistics, and the town clerk responsible for record-keeping.
  • Implications:
    • Increases flexibility for voter participation through remote or hybrid formats.
    • Creates obligations for meeting recording and public posting, ensuring transparency.
    • Ensures that decisions made at remote/hybrid meetings carry the same legal effect as in-person meetings.
    • May require investment in technology and procedures to support remote participation and recording.

Procedures, timeline, and status

  • Introduction and referral: February 27, 2025 (referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government)
  • Hearing: Scheduled for July 22, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, in room B-1
  • Related actions: House endorsement and related senate actions appear in the bill’s docket; local approval status indicated as “Local Approval Received” on related materials
  • Effective date: Upon passage

Related information

  • Related bill: HD 246 (replaces) and a similar measure previously filed as H.2053 in the 2023-2024 session
  • Purpose alignment: Extends modern participation options to Wayland in line with evolving open meeting practices

This summary presents the substantive provisions and potential effects of H.2272 as introduced, focusing on how Wayland could implement hybrid town meetings and the consequent record-keeping and legal considerations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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